Public Bettors Get Crushed By Mavs Blowout Loss to Celtics in Game 1 of NBA Finals

Game 1 of the NBA Finals didn't turn out well for public bettors...

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving. / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Even though the Dallas Mavericks entered Game 1 of the NBA Finals -- and the series as a whole -- as underdogs, public bettors weren't afraid to bet on Dallas ahead of Thursday night's series opener.

However, that strategy backfired in a big way, as Dallas was blown out 107-89 in Game 1, failing to cover the spread as a 6.5-point underdog.

According to BetMGM's John Ewing, 77 percent of the bets in Game 1 were on the Mavericks to win outright and 66 percent of the bets were on Dallas to cover.

Updated NBA Finals Game 1 betting at #BetMGM@celtics open -6.5, no movement
▪️ 34% of bets, 33% of money is on Celtics

Total open 213.5, now 217.5
▪️ 81% of bets, 86% of money is on Over@dallasmavs open +200, no movement
▪️ 77% of bets, 70% of money is on Mavericks

— John Ewing (@johnewing) June 6, 2024

All of those public bettors came out on the wrong side in Game 1, and the odds to win the entire NBA Finals have shifted in a big way in favor of Boston. Based on implied probability, the Celtics have an 80 percent chance to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Latest Odds to Win NBA Championship

• Celtics: -400
• Mavericks: +310

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

The Celtics opened the series at -210 to win the series -- Dallas was +180 -- but oddsmakers clearly are giving a major edge to the team up 1-0 in the series.

Boston has lost a pair of Game 2s at home in these playoffs, and the Mavericks have struggled in Game 1s regardless under Jason Kidd, going 1-6 straight up in seven playoff series.

With the win in Game 1, Boston continued a massive Game 1 trend where favorites have now covered the spread in 17 of the last 20 Game 1s of the NBA Finals.

Oddsmakers have slightly adjusted the spread for Game 2 after Boston's dominant Game 1 win, setting the C's as seven-point favorites for Sunday's action.

It'll be interesting to see if the public is back in on the Mavericks in Game 2 or if the tide is starting to shift towards Boston.

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Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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