ESPN Analytics appears to be very high on the Celtics for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
With tip-off just four days away, ESPN’s Basketball Power Index is giving the C’s a 65.7% chance of taking a 1-0 series lead at home over the Dallas Mavericks.
While Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Co. are believed to have just a 34.3% chance of stealing a W on the road.
Boston was extremely successful throughout the regular season but struggled a bit to put away lesser teams in the playoffs despite having all of the star power.
The Mavs on the other hand have been battle-tested in every round this postseason and seem to have found their stride.
Dallas is a 6.5-point underdog in Game 1 as they head to TD Garden and the game has an over/under of 214.5, according to ESPN BET.
Hopefully the Celtics are able to get Kristaps Porzingis back in the lineup after the 7-foot-2 Latvian has been out since April 29 with a right calf strain.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla said Friday that Porzingis is “getting better” and that the Boston center has gone through a couple of drills in practice and is “progressing well.”
We’ll see if he’ll be ready to go by 8:30 PM ET on Thursday night.