Drama Filled Finals

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Developing Stories 📰

Kyrie Irving returning to Boston. Luka Doncic's first trip to the title round. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum getting another chance at a ring. Kristaps Porzingis facing his former team too. The matchup is now set: It'll be Boston against Dallas for the Larry O'Brien Trophy. The series starts on the Celtics' home floor on June 6, meaning everyone will be sitting around and waiting for about a week, a byproduct of the Celtics and Mavericks making short work of their respective conference finals.

Dallas eliminated Minnesota on Thursday night, winning 124-103 to finish off a 4-1 victory in the Western Conference finals. Boston's spot was clinched Monday night, after the Celtics beat Indiana 108-105 to cap a 4-0 series in the East.

It's Boston's second time in the finals in the last three seasons, after falling to Golden State in six games in 2022. Dallas is in the title round for the first time since winning the championship against Miami in 2011. Much will be made, and rightly so, of Irving and the Celtics meeting with a title on the line. Boston made a blockbuster move in 2017 by trading for Irving with the hopes of seeing him grace its parquet floor in the NBA Finals. Irving was an All-Star in both of his Boston seasons, then left as a free agent to join the Brooklyn Nets in 2019 a few months after saying — vowing, really — that he would be staying with the Celtics. There have been some interesting moments in his returns to Boston; he's been routinely booed and had a water bottle thrown at him while he's been fined for making an obscene gesture and raised ire by stomping on the Celtics' leprechaun logo at midcourt following a Brooklyn playoff win there. Porzingis spent nearly three years in Dallas after being traded there by the New York Knicks in 2019. He's in his first season in Boston and has been a huge part of the Celtics' success but got hurt in Round 1 against Miami and hasn't played since, though it seems reasonable to think he may be ready for the NBA Finals. The Celtics won the two head-to-head meetings against the Mavericks in the regular season, 119-110 at Dallas on Jan. 22 and then 138-110 in Boston on March 1.

The Mavericks didn't have an answer for Tatum; he had 39 points in the January game, 32 in the March matchup. The Celtics didn't have an answer for Doncic; he had triple-doubles in both games — 33 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists in January, then 37 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in March. The Celtics are seeking their 18th title overall, which would break a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most in NBA history, and their first championship since 2008.

Headlines 🚨

On This Day in Sport History: 1985 The New Orleans Saints are sold for $70,204,000

2008 Usain Bolt breaks the world record in the 100m sprint with a time of 9.72 seconds

Hard Knocks will go forward with the Chicago Bears this offseason for training camp

The Dolphins agreed to a contract extension with Jaylen Waddle for three years worth $84.75 million making him one of the highest paid wide receivers in the NFL

The Florida Panthers are one win away from returning to the Stanley cup after beating the Rangers in game 5

Diamondbacks top pitcher Zac Gallen is on the injured list with a strained hamstring

The Wizards are promoting interim coach Brian Keefe as their new head coach

Trends 📈📉 via Oddsshark

🏒 Oilers at Stars

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Edmonton's last 5 games on the road

• The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Edmonton's last 10 games when playing on the road against Dallas

• The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Dallas's last 15 games at home

⚾️ Nationals at Guardians

• The total has gone OVER in 6 of Washington's last 7 games when playing Cleveland

⚾️ Rangers at Marlins

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Texas's last 6 games

• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Miami's last 7 games

⚾️ Diamondbacks at Mets

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Arizona's last 5 games

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Arizona's last 5 games on the road

• NY Mets is 16-2 SU in its last 18 games when playing at home against Arizona

• NY Mets is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing Arizona

⚾️ Athletics at Braves

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oakland's last 5 games

⚾️ Padres at Royals

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of San Diego's last 6 games when playing on the road against Kansas City

⚾️ Angels at Mariners

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Seattle's last 5 games at home

• The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Seattle's last 8 games 

Public Money 🤑 via VSiN at 9AMCT

🏒 NHL

27% of bets and 54% of money is on DAL -1.5 +200

61% of bets and 79% of money is on UNDER 6 EDM at DAL

⚾️ MLB

27% of bets and 42% of money is on PIT +155

50% of bets and 60% of money is on OVER 8 PIT at TOR

53% of bets and 84% of money is on BOS -1.5 +120

60% of bets and 85% of money is on TEX -1.5 +130

13% of bets and 28% of money is on OAK +185

64% of bets and 84% of money is on UNDER 8 OAK at ATL

67% of bets and 82% of money is on HOU -115

52% of bets and 78% of money is on UNDER 8 MIN at HOU

48% of bets and 83% of money is on UNDER 8 SD at KC

24% of bets and 68% of money is on COL +280

14% of bets and 34% of money is on LAA +130

47% of bets and 77% of money is on UNDER 6.5 LAA at SEA

Future Odds 🔮 via Bovada Sportsbook

Weekend Picks 🔒

Stars -125 | The Stars are back in Dallas and hoping Tanev is back, who is crucial for their defense. The Stars have played much better at home plus thw crowd gives them some support as they hope to take a 3-2 lead.

Rangers -124 | The Marlins at home have less than a .500 win percentage. Urena has been solid his past two starts allowing two or fewer runs in 4 out of his last 5 starts. Sixto Sanchez has been a career disappointment with a 9 era last month and 4.58 in May.