🏀 Mavericks vs. Celtics Player Props: Tatum's Return & Picks

My Mavericks vs. Celtics player props today feature a best bet on Jayson Tatum as he returns from a torn Achilles.

Corey Scott

Last Updated: March 6, 2026 7:32 PM EST • 3 minute read

Pictured: Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0), seen here looking on during a game, is featured in our Mavericks vs. Celtics player props today. Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski / Imagn Images.

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I've found the best value plays in the betting market tonight with Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum making his season debut against the Dallas Mavericks. The Celtics are a 14.5-point betting favorite, with tipoff from TD Garden in Boston set for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN).

How will Tatum's return affect the game betting-wise? My Mavericks vs. Celtics player props factor in the Celtics star's return and focus on him for an NBA best bet. My top picks also target Celtics guard Jaylen Brown and Mavericks rookie forward Cooper Flagg. Brown should go over one of his props due to Tatum's return, while Flagg should come up short as he faces a tough test in Boston.

🏀 Best Mavericks vs. Celtics player props today: NBA picks for March 6

See all of our experts' NBA picks based on the latest NBA odds; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.

Player	Prop bet	Units	Confidence
Jayson Tatum, Celtics	Under 4.5 rebounds (-158 via FanDuel)	1.58u -> 1u	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jaylen Brown, Celtics	Over 6.5 rebounds (-118 via FanDuel)	1.18u -> 1u	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cooper Flagg, Mavericks	Under 17.5 points (-103 via DraftKings)	1.03u -> 1u	⭐⭐⭐⭐

Total wagered: 3.79 units | Max profit: 3 units

💰 Best Mavericks vs. Celtics prop bet

Follow all of our NBA analysis and expert predictions this season.

Jayson Tatum Under 4.5 rebounds (-158)

I highly doubt that Tatum will be extra aggressive on the boards tonight after returning in just 10 months from a torn Achilles. When Kevin Durant returned from his torn Achilles in 2020, he played just 25 minutes in his first game - and that was after taking an entire season off to rehab.

The Celtics should be cautious with Tatum's minutes, and they probably don't need him to crash the boards as a 14.5-point favorite. FanDuel has Tatum Under 4.5 rebounds at -158, but I would still play it at any of the best sports betting sites up to -180.

💸 More Jayson Tatum player props!

I feature the best plays for the Celtics star's return in my Jayson Tatum player props.

🔥 More Mavericks vs. Celtics prop picks

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Jaylen Brown Over 6.5 rebounds (-118)

Brown has gone over this number in six straight games since the All-Star break. He's become more aggressive crashing the boards, and with Tatum making his return tonight, there will probably be even more pressure on Brown to rebound since the coaching staff won't want Tatum to risk injury.

Brown is coming off an 11-rebound performance against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, and this number is too low to stay away from. FanDuel lists Brown Over 6.5 rebounds at -118, but this bet is good up to -135.

🏀 More NBA player props tonight!

Jaylen Brown, Kawhi Leonard, and Jalen Brunson are featured in my NBA player props tonight.

Cooper Flagg Under 17.5 points (-103)

The Celtics are among the best teams defensively in the NBA when coming off a loss. Boston was routed by 29 points on Wednesday. The Celtics have allowed 105 or fewer points in four of their last five games after a loss.

Meanwhile, Flagg was too injured to face the Hornets on Tuesday, but now he's healthy enough to score 18 points in back-to-back games? Not a chance. Flagg Under 17.5 points is -103 at DraftKings, but I would still play it up to -115 at any of the best NBA betting sites.

💡 How I'm betting Mavericks vs. Celtics

For my bankroll strategy, I treat 1 unit as 1% of the money I've set aside exclusively for sports betting. I've allocated 3.79 units for this game - which is the average amount I would typically wager on three player props - because I'm confident directionally in these plays. However, these prices aren't super far off from where I'd set them.

I'm expecting a competitive game tonight, as adding Tatum back into the rotation may throw off some of the chemistry that Boston has built throughout the season. Additionally, Flagg being back for Dallas is a huge positive for a team that was trending downward without him.

🚑 Mavericks vs. Celtics injuries

📺 How to watch Mavericks vs. Celtics

Date: Friday, March 6
Tipoff: 7 p.m. ET
Location: TD Garden (Boston)
TV: ESPN

📈 My win/loss record: Updated March 6

All NBA picks, including SGPs, have been tracked since Feb. 10.

Bet type	Record	Net profit	ROI
Parlays	1-8	-1.34 units ❌	-49.68% ❌
Player props	37-30-3	+4.96 units ✅	5.8% ✅
Overall	38-38-3	+3.62 units ✅	4.1% ✅

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Written by:
Corey Scott

Corey is a Publishing Editor at Sportsbook Review and holds a diploma in Radio and Television Sports Broadcasting from the College of Sports Media in Toronto. He is one of the NBA player-prop specialists at SBR and focuses on the impact of injuries to identify where the market has been slow to adjust. Corey also frequently bets sides in the NBA, NFL, MLB, and CFL, typically using a top-down approach to beat the closing line. His work has appeared across the USA Today Network, Gambling.com Group, and Athlon Sports. With more than a decade of sports betting experience, Corey is familiar with all types of operators, from regulated sportsbooks to less conventional platforms, though he primarily uses Pinnacle and FanDuel. While he rarely bets parlays anymore - unless they are clearly mispriced - his biggest win came from a seven-team parlay at +13675 odds. Corey visits Las Vegas multiple times a year. His favorite resort is the Wynn/Encore, though he can be found at any sportsbook offering an off-market number.