Stephen Nover's NBA June Game of the Month
(NBA) Celtics (BOS) vs. Mavericks (DAL),
Total: 212.50 | -110.00 Over
Result: Loss
The Celtics have been amazingly consistent with their scoring during their last nine games. They are averaging 111.3 points in regulation during this span, never scoring fewer than 105 points.

Yet the first two games of this series have gone Under because the Mavericks have managed to only produce games of 89 and 98 points.

So the oddsmaker has adjusted. We now have the lowest total of the series.

Dallas is averaging only 93.5 points in the series. There have been two main reasons for that. The Mavericks are just 13-for-53 shooting from 3-point range. That's 24.5 percent. They averaged 36.9 percent during the regular season. The other major factor is aside from Luke Doncic, nearly all of the other Mavericks have failed to step up, especially their role players.

I expect this to change in this Game 3. Boston should maintain its consistency on the scoring end. The Mavericks, though, are due to hit more of their 3-points. Many of their misses have come on open looks.

Look for the Mavericks' role players to step up now that the scene has shifted to Dallas. This is proven in the Mavericks' playoff statistics. Aside from Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the other Mavericks have shot 48.6 percent from the field and 38 percent from beyond the arc when at home during the postseason compared to their road playoff marks of 46.1 percent shooting from the floor and 34.7 percent from 3-point range.

Dallas' big men will be able to score more inside, too, if Kristaps Porzingis can't play, or is limited, after aggravating a leg injury in Game 2.