The ever-popular "zig-zag" theory will be implemented by many bettors in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. It has some practical contextual value, considering both of Boston's playoff losses have come in Game 2s on its home floor and Dallas has won a pair of playoff Game 2s on the road after losing the opener. But with Luka Doncic didn't get much help in Game 1, and now he's playing through multiple ailments. Moreover, the Celtics cruised to a Game 1 blowout despite modest production from stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Expect Dallas to sick around a little longer but Boston to notch another double-figure win.

With the Celtics guarding Luka and Kyrie straight up without helping, those two guys know they need to put their foot down in creating their own offense. I trust them to at least keep this game close, if not win and tie the series up.

Kyrie Irving scored 12 points in Game 1 and with Luka hurting in Game 2, he knows he needs to put up a big number tonight. The Celtics are guarding the Mavericks straight up so without passing lanes opening up these guys are going to have to individually create. I think Kyrie gets it going from 3 tonight.

Boston has lost twice at home this postseason. Both of those losses have come in game two. The Mavericks dropped game one in the first round and semifinal series then came back to win both game twos on the road. Dallas is 3-0 SU and ATS in game two on the road. Worth a shot.

Boston dominated game one. The Mavericks shot 7-27 from beyond arc and could be in the running for some positive progression tonight. Dallas came out very flat and simply couldn’t match the intensity of the Celtics. They’ve been one of the best defensive teams this postseason and have shown they can make the adjustments. Dallas is an NBA-best 34-17 ATS as the road team this season.

If Tatum has any alpha male “Big (blank) energy” he will respond. Jason Kidd said unapologetically that “Jaylen is the Celtics best player”. Hey Tatum, what are you gonna do about it? Knowing this team Tatum will fill the stat sheet. I don’t think we will get a blowout…so I’m going over

Jrue Holiday was terrific in Game 1, especially on the defensive end. While he scored a modest 12 points, he also chipped in eight rebounds and five assists. With that performance, he has finished with at least 11 combined rebounds and assists in seven of his last eight games. He posted 13 combined rebounds and assists the first time these two teams met during the regular season. He only played 27 minutes the second time because of the lopsided score, but still finished with nine combined. With the expectation that he plays at least 35 minutes against Sunday, the over is the way to go.

The Mavericks were down by 17 points after the first quarter of Game 1. They whittled the lead down to eight points at one time in the game, but ultimately fell by 18 points. They shot 41.7% from the field, 25.9% from three and 63.2% at the charity stripe. The Celtics are a very good defensive team, but I don’t expect the Mavericks to be that inefficient again. Look for them to make enough adjustments for Game 2 to help them cover the spread.

It's the last chance of this NBA postseason to invoke the venerable "Game 2 Zig-Zag" after the Mavs were popped by the Celtics in Thursday's Game One. NBA history is replete with teams recovering on the road in Game 2, including Dallas in its first two series (vs. the Clippers and Thunder) when it also absorbed heavy losses in Game 1 just like Thursday at TD Garden. That wasn't the same Dallas that romped past the T-wolves in the previous round; certainly not Kyrie Irving, who missed all five of his triples, and Luka Doncic's 30 points were very quiet (only 1 assist and eight missed triples). Boston's only two losses in the playoffs also came in previous Game 2s. Play Mavs

The Celtics have now won and covered five straight times against the Mavericks including game one of the finals 107-89. The Celtics beat the Mavs 37-20 in the first quarter and then that was the game, they lost by 18. The whole game was wrapped in one quarter, one wipe out and the stake in the heart. The Maverick shot 42% from the field, 26% from 3-point range, and 63% from the free throw line. They're not going to win games like that, especially against the Celtics. They play better in Game 2. Total Over.

I believe the whole thing comes down to Kyrie Irving shooting poorly and looking disheveled, shooting 6 for 19 from the field and zero for five from three-point range, 12 points are all he scored. If Kyrie shoots better the Mavericks would have won game one or at least competed better and not been down by 17 points the whole game. Others follow his lead. Kyrie has had two whole days to beat down on himself and he'll be better for game two and he'll be the reason the Mavericks show better.

Jrue Holiday had a combined 23 chances for rebounds and assists in Game 1, finishing with 13. Holiday cleared this prop total for the fifth straight time Thursday. He did so in just 35 minutes as Game 1 turned into a blowout. I'm expecting a more competitive Game 2, which could mean 40-plus minutes for Holiday.

Dallas survived a brutal Western Conference, they were exceptional on the road in the process, and they started every series slowly. BOS faced inferior foes, tended to cruise in Game 1 and choke in Game 2. They struggle to sustain their best play, but were excellent in hitting high notes despite a long layoff. DAL was sloppy after the respite, but expect a lethal backcourt Sun. Is Kyrie never going to beat BOS again? That 0-11 run will motivate him. Mavs won't shoot as poorly. Bet they find a way to play more above the rim as well.

Hartford played 30+ minutes and KP played 20 min. That will flip in game 2. Yet, the Horford number is not anticipating a drop in minutes…so let’s jump this now

We were on pace for this before Dereck Lively fouled out. He hit 5 rebounds in 18 minutes, and we should see at least 24 minutes from him Game 2. He is much more impactful as a rebounder and as a lob threat than Gafford proved to be in Game 1, and it was obvious that they ideally would have had Lively in there instead.

This is a surprisingly chunky combo line for big Al Horford who looked very good in Game 1 on his way to logging 30 minutes, while compiling 20 PRA. However Kristaps Porzingis looked excellent in 21 minutes of action off the bench for Boston. I do not expect Horford to log more minutes than Porzingis as this series progresses. I also have confidence that the combination of Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively will be more effective in Game 2. Even if Boston HC Joe Mazzulla elects to stick with Horford in the starting lineup, this number is closer to Horford's ceiling when logging 30+ mins.