Dallas Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith (right contusion) and guard Josh Green (right elbow sprain) will miss Thursday night’s home game against the Boston Celtics.
Maxi Kleber (right hamstring tear) will also miss this interconference matchup. Through 38 games of the 2022-23 season, Dallas is 22-16 and fourth overall in the Western Conference standings.
At several NBA betting sites, the Mavericks have the 12th-best odds to win the championship. Some sportsbooks are favoring the New Orleans Pelicans and the Phoenix Suns.
Dorian Finney-Smith (right adductor strain), Josh Green (right elbow sprain) and Maxi Kleber (right hamstring tear) will miss tomorrow night’s game against the Celtics.
— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) January 4, 2023
Finney-Smith is expected to miss at least one more week. In 31 starts this season, the 29-year-old is averaging 8.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steals per game. Additionally, the seventh-year wing is shooting 40.1% from the field and 34.5% from beyond the arc.
In the year On November 15, Finney-Smith scored a game-high 21 points in 37 minutes in the Mavericks’ 103–101 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. He finished 7 of 15 (46.7%) from the floor and 7 of 13 (53.8%) from 3-point range.
The Mavericks’ Dorian Finney-Smith (right adductor strain), Josh Green (right elbow sprain) and Maxi Kleber (right hamstring tear) will play against the Celtics on Thursday.
Likewise, Josh Green hasn’t played since December 9 against the Milwaukee Bucks. The third-year guard has missed the past 13 games. He is averaging a career-high seven points to go along with 2.3 boards and 1.2 assists in 25 games this season.
Green is shooting career bests of 58.3% from the field and 44.4% from beyond the arc. In the Mavericks’ 98-97 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 20, the Arizona product scored a game-high 23 points in 31 minutes of action. Sure, he shot 8-9 (88.9%) from the floor and knocked down six 3-pointers.
The two players listed on the Celtics’ injury report are Danilo Gallinari (ACL) and Robert Williams III (knee). Gallinari will miss the entire season due to a left ACL tear suffered during EuroBasket, and Williams has been elevated to probable status.
Run to court first 💪🏻🔥 # Reformation It will continue 😉@celtics pic.twitter.com/9AbN5kdQs6
— Danilo Gallinari (@gallinari8888) January 4, 2023
The Celtics are 3-9 in 12 road games against Dallas heading into Wednesday night’s conference showdown. And Boston is 0-4-1 ATS in their last five away games. But the C’s are 11-4 in their 15 meetings against Western Conference opponents.
To add to the aforementioned betting trends, Dallas has won their last seven games. Mavericks are 9-3 in their last 12 home games against the Celtics. However, the Mavs are 2-10 in their previous 12 meetings against Eastern Conference teams.
According to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, the Celtics have a 61.9% chance of beating the Mavericks. Sportsbooks show Dallas as a 2.5-point underdog at home.
