Sam Hauser made four threes in less than 18 minutes in Boston’s win at Philadelphia, then hit two more in the win at Toronto. Dallas comes to Boston on the second night of a back-to-back after a 127–117 loss in Cleveland.
If you’re backing Boston to win, Hauser’s threes give you a way to follow what the Celtics get from their bench. Dallas can still get useful minutes from Naji Marshall as a passer, even if Boston makes it hard for Cooper Flagg to score.
Player props for a Celtics win
| Player & prop | Odds | With this result | All games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Hauser Over 1.5 made threes |
−135 | 80.0% 8 of 10 BOS wins |
75.0% 9 of 12 games |
| Naji Marshall Over 2.5 assists |
−165 | 100.0% 6 of 6 DAL losses |
80.0% 8 of 10 games |
| Cooper Flagg Under 22.5 points |
−111 | 80.0% 4 of 5 DAL losses |
50.0% 6 of 12 games |
Sam Hauser over 1.5 made threes
Hauser went 4-for-6 from deep in Philadelphia and 2-for-4 in Toronto. If Dallas sends help at a driving Jayson Tatum or Paul George, watch whether Boston can swing the ball to Hauser before a defender gets back to him. He can get what he needs in a short shift if those looks are there.
Hauser had exactly two threes in three of the eight Boston wins in which he cleared this line. He’s also made at least two in nine of 12 games overall, so his shot volume off the bench matters more here than the small difference between the two records.
Naji Marshall over 2.5 assists
Marshall had four assists in under 23 minutes at Minnesota and five in nearly 30 minutes at Cleveland. If Boston helps when he drives, a pass out to a shooter or a drop-off to a big man gives him a way to get to three even if Dallas is chasing the game.
He’s cleared the line in all six losses he played, but −165 is a short price for that small sample. He had two assists in 15 minutes against Brooklyn. Max Christie missed Saturday with an ankle sprain, and the NBA’s 7 a.m. ET report showed Dallas’s Sunday filing was still pending. Dallas’s wing rotation is worth checking before relying on another long shift for Marshall.
Cooper Flagg under 22.5 points
Flagg took 19 shots at Cleveland and finished with 18 points, missing all six of his threes. If Boston can keep a second defender near the lane and make him finish through traffic, Flagg could get plenty of touches and still stay below 23.
The under has hit in four of his five losses, compared with six of 12 games overall. The risk is what happens when those touches produce clean looks and trips to the line. Flagg scored 43 against Indiana six days ago, shooting 16-for-25 and making all eight free throws. At −111, the under is the lowest-priced option here.
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What to watch early at TD Garden
Look for Hauser getting threes off quick passes and for Boston getting help in front of Flagg on his drives. Marshall’s assist over depends more on how much time he gets with the ball in Dallas’s bench lineups. Pick the angle that fits how you see the game unfolding.
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