The Boston Celtics visit the Dallas Mavericks for a Tuesday night showcase in the NBA. The Celtics have adjusted their identity this season, leaning on Jaylen Brown’s scoring while Jayson Tatum continues his Achilles recovery. Dallas counters with top pick Cooper Flagg ascending quickly as they try to snap a two-game losing streak. Here, I break down this inter-conference matchup in the NBA and make my Celtics vs Mavericks prediction.
Our Celtics vs Mavericks Pick
Pick: Mavericks +7.5
Confidence: 3/5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Boston Celtics @ Dallas Mavericks
- Date & Time: February 3, 2026, 8:00 PM ET
- Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
- Broadcast: NBC and Peacock
Key Storylines
- Boston form check: Boston is fresh off a 107-79 win over Milwaukee with Jaylen Brown posting 30 points and 13 boards, and Derrick White stuffing the box score. Anfernee Simons added instant offense off the bench, as the Celtics continue to overcome injury issues to be competitive in the Eastern Conference.
- Dallas form check: Dallas most recently suffered a 111-107 defeat at Houston. Cooper Flagg erupted for 34 points as the Mavericks rallied late but could not close. That was the fourth loss in a row for the Mavs.
- Injuries and availability: Jayson Tatum remains out as he continues his Achilles recovery. Payton Pritchard has been playing through a pinky issue. For Dallas, Kyrie Irving remains out long-term with a knee injury, while Anthony Davis, PJ Washington, and Dereck Lively are also out of action.
- Pace and identity: Boston operates at a slower tempo with high-end shot quality and the willingness to fire away from three-point range. Dallas plays faster, relying on Flagg’s creation and streaky perimeter help from his supporting cast.
- Boston enters this game in a tie for second place in the Eastern Conference. Dallas sits in 12th place in the West and is on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff race in their conference.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- Past meetings: This is the first of two scheduled meetings between the Celtics and Mavericks this season.
- Boston is 27-22 against the spread going into this matchup.
- Dallas has a 23-26 record against the spread heading into Tuesday night.
- The under is 28-21 in Mavericks games so far this season.
- The under is 30-19 in games involving the Celtics this year.
Celtics vs Mavericks Model Projection
Score Projection: Boston 116 – Dallas 111 Win Probability: Boston 78%, Dallas 22%
Final Thoughts
The Celtics should win this game on the road over a struggling Mavericks team. But I'm going to go with Dallas to cover the spread as a home underdog. Flagg has been playing at a spectacular level this season and, while Jaylen Brown has been great too, the lack of consistent help around Brown should make this game tougher than it needs to be for Boston.
