Cooper Flagg scored 43 points in Dallas’s win over Indiana, and he still found time for six assists. On Saturday in Cleveland he had five assists in a 127–117 loss. That one-assist difference is the margin at DraftKings’ 5.5 line Sunday at Boston.
If you’re backing a Mavericks win, watch what Dallas gets when Boston sends help at Flagg. His passing and P.J. Washington’s outside shooting offer two ways to follow those possessions. On the other end, Jayson Tatum’s points line comes down to whether Dallas can keep his shots difficult.
Player props for a Mavericks win
| Player & prop | Odds | With this result | All games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper Flagg Over 5.5 assists |
−103 | 100.0% 7 of 7 DAL wins |
66.7% 8 of 12 games |
| P.J. Washington Over 1.5 made threes |
−179 | 85.7% 6 of 7 DAL wins |
76.9% 10 of 13 games |
| Jayson Tatum Under 27.5 points |
−119 | 100.0% 5 of 5 BOS losses |
81.5% 22 of 27 games |
Cooper Flagg over 5.5 assists
Flagg had 12 assists in 28 minutes against Brooklyn, but the Indiana game shows he can reach six while carrying the scoring load. If a second Celtic steps toward him on a drive, look for the pass out to the wing or the drop-off to a big man near the rim.
He reached six assists in every Dallas win he played, but three of the seven ended at exactly six. If Boston can switch without sending extra help, or if Dallas misses the open shots he creates, the over can fall a pass short again.
P.J. Washington over 1.5 made threes
Washington went 6-for-10 from three against Utah and 2-for-8 against Indiana. Dallas coach Dusty May has emphasized Washington’s outside shooting. His chances improve if the ball reaches him before Boston can recover from helping on a drive.
Washington finished at exactly two in four of the six wins where he cleared the line. He also made at least two in 10 of 13 games overall, so the win split adds little on its own at −179. Both Dallas players started Saturday. At the NBA’s 8 a.m. ET update, Dallas’s Sunday injury report was still pending.
Jayson Tatum under 27.5 points
Tatum took 23 shots for 13 points at Detroit and 16 for 19 at Houston, Boston’s two losses this season. He still had 11 and nine assists, respectively. Dallas can give this under a chance if it forces tough jumpers and makes Tatum give up the ball before he gets deep into the lane.
The under is 7 of 11 overall this season. The five-loss sample in the table includes three games from last season after Tatum’s return from an Achilles injury. The risk is how quickly a few clean threes and trips to the line can change the count. At Charlotte he scored 34 in 29 minutes with five threes and 11 free throws.
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What to watch early at TD Garden
If you expect Boston to send help, Flagg’s assist line gives you more ways to be right. Washington’s over is the more specific bet on who gets those shots. If your Dallas win hinges on defense, focus on whether the Mavericks can keep Tatum off the line.
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