NBA Finals: Previews, Stats, TV and Streaming Schedule
Rejoice, basketball fans, the NBA Finals are here! The Boston Celtics will take on the Dallas Mavericks in what promises to be an unforgettable battle between two NBA powerhouses. Will it finally be Jayson Tatum's turn to win the big one, or does Luka Doncic have another surprise up his sleeve? In this article, we will delve into the viewing options available, the players to look out for and the journeys that have brought these two teams together. Whatever happens, it is going to be must-watch action for any basketball enthusiast.
Key information:
- Dates for the NBA Finals: 6th - 23rd June, 2024
- Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks H2H this season: 2-0
- Regular season rankings: Celtics (First in the East with a 64-18 record), Mavericks (Fifth in the West with a 50-32 record)
- NBA Finals on TV and stream: Watch the NBA Finals live on ABC, or stream on NBA League Pass
- The most valuable player in both teams: Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics), Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
NBA Finals on TV and Stream
The NBA Finals is the highlight of any basketball fan’s year, and the great news is that you can tune in very easily. If you have an antenna and are near an ABC station, then you can enjoy every game without doing a thing. If this isn't an option for you, then expanding your TV viewing experience to one of the many popular cable or satellite TV packages could be a good option. Cox ($61 per month), DirecTV ($69 p/m), and Verizon Fios ($85 p/m) all have ABC, whilst also offering a vast array of other sports and entertainment channels to choose from.
More modern streaming services such as YouTube TV ($72.99 a month), Sling TV ($40 p/m), and Hulu + Live TV ($76.99) also feature ABC, alongside a whole host of other channels. If you are looking for a significant upgrade that will allow you to watch all of the NBA Finals and plenty more sports coverage and TV shows, then one of these will do the trick.
If you simply want the NBA action and nothing else, then saving some money and opting for NBA League Pass is a good idea. At $14.99 a month, this gives you every second of the NBA Finals, along with extensive pre-game coverage, post-game analysis and on-demand highlights.
Dallas Mavericks road to the NBA Finals
Having entered the playoffs as the fifth seed in the West, the Dallas Mavericks have enjoyed a relatively stress-free playoff experience in 2024. Despite finding themselves at 2-2 in both of the first two series, the Mavericks have not seemed troubled, going on to win both of those contests 4 games to 2. Those came against the LA Clippers in round 1 and the Oklahoma City Thunder in round 2.
Their success set up a mouth-watering Conference Finals matchup against the surging Minnesota Timberwolves, led by superstar Anthony Edwards. Unfortunately, for neutral fans, the contest never quite lived up to the hype, with a Luka Doncic masterclass putting the Timberwolves firmly in their place. A 4-1 series win always looked the most likely outcome, setting up their first finals appearance since 2011.
Boston Celtics road to the NBA Finals
The Boston Celtics have also enjoyed a stress-free playoff experience so far this year. Their three series have produced just two losses, resulting in a 4-1 victory over the Miami Heat, and a 4-1 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, before sweeping the Indiana Pacers 4-0 in the Conference Finals. Their trip through the playoffs has been made slightly easier by going up against a Cavaliers team without Donovan Mitchell for much of the series, and then a Pacers side missing Tyrese Haliburton for the last two games.
Nevertheless, it has been a strong showing from Boston so far, who have had to deal with some adversity of their own. Center Kristaps Porzingas has only played four games because of injury, which is not ideal prep for what is going to be their toughest challenge against an in-form Dallas side. His potential return and form could be crucial for a Boston team that has come so close over recent years. After losing the Finals two years ago and then losing in the Eastern Conference Finals last year, can they finally get the job done in 2024?
Preview & Predictions
The preseason favorite Boston Celtics are still standing, now assigned odds of -220 to lift the trophy. They have been knocking on the door in recent years and appear to have everything they need to finally get the job done. It won’t be easy though. This Dallas Mavericks team was electrifying against the Timberwolves in the conference finals, and their +180 odds show that there is a lot of respect heading in their direction.
The stars of the show are likely to be Jayson Tatum for the Celtics and Luka Doncic for the Mavericks. Tatum is the favorite to win MVP of the series at +100. Doncic’s odds of +180 as second favorite are the same as the Maverick’s odds of winning the series, which proves how influential he is. If the Mavericks win, it’s because Luka put out an MVP-worthy performance. The other star of the show for the Celtics is Jaylen Brown, who also has plenty of talent. He could easily take a step forward over the next couple of weeks, which makes him the value bet for MVP at +400.
Author: Venuse, Inc