With the Boston Celtics firmly in control of what has been a lopsided NBA Finals, a Florida bettor is putting down some big cash on another Beantown beatdown of the Dallas Mavericks.
An anonymous bettor has placed a $1.5 million bet on the Celtics to take Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday. With odds at +105, making the Celtics slight road underdogs, the bet would be set to pay out a massive $3.075 million.
?BIG BET ALERT?
— Hard Rock Bet (@HardRockBet) June 12, 2024
Boston to win Game 3 for $1.5 million ? pic.twitter.com/CM67UXtKIt
The bet was placed through Hard Rock Bet, particularly over the app and within the state of Florida, according to sports betting journalist Ben Fawkes. Hard Rock Bet is the only online Florida sports betting option in the state.
Celtics commanding the series
Following a 105-98 final in Game 2, the Celtics currently hold a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Mavericks, who have struggled to match up with a Boston squad that came into the series as heavy favorites.
The past two games at TD Garden have only reaffirmed those thoughts, as strong play from the Celtics depth stars including Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday has buoyed the Celtics and pushed them out to an early series lead.
Dallas, meanwhile, has gotten little in the way of contributions behind superstar Luka Doncic, who has battled a myriad of injuries including a chest injury sustained in Game 1. His top running mate, Kyrie Irving, has struggled mightily in particular against his former squad, with Irving having dropped 12 straight games against Boston dating back to his time with the Brooklyn Nets. The former Celtics guard has also yet to drain a 3-pointer in the series, going 0-8 through two games in the NBA Finals.
“You gotta accept the ups and downs of this,” Irving said following Game 2. “I would say that's the toughest challenge when you're in a series. You want to play extremely well, especially when you're playing in the Finals. A little disappointed in myself. Not being able to convert a lot more of my opportunities that I have in the lane."
Despite Boston’s major series lead, the Celtics are listed as underdogs ahead of Game 3, perhaps in part due to concerns related to the health of Porzingis. Porzingis is dealing with a torn medial retinaculum allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon.
The Celtics just announced Kristaps Porzingis is day-to-day with a left leg injury. He also appeared to tweak his right leg in Game 2. pic.twitter.com/ETjPWm5gtm
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) June 11, 2024
Listed between roughly +120 and +130, Boston is the underdog for the first time in this series, for the first time since April 9, when the team closed at +3.5 against the Milwaukee Bucks, and for just the second time since New Year's Day.
