Tip-off: Friday, 8:35 p.m. ET
Line: Dallas -4.5, Total: 196.5

The Celtics look to snap a mini two-game slide when they visit a Mavs team that’s playing out the string when the teams meet Friday night.

The Celtics are coming off two heartbreaking losses, first missing out on an opportunity to snap Miami’s win streak in a 105-103 home loss, then losing at New Orleans on a tip-in in the final moments Wednesday night. They’ll be visiting a Dallas team that has beaten them SU in four of their last five meetings. And the Mavs have covered in each of their past four games against the Celtics. Boston went double overtime to beat Dallas in their last meeting, at Boston in December, but the Mavs were still without Dirk Nowitzki at that point.

Can Dallas record yet another victory in this series? For the answer, connect to NBA Best Bets for all the Expert picks throughout the entire 2012-13 season. StatFox Gary is 66% ATS (25-13-1) since Feb. 20, StatFox Brian is 63% ATS (20-12-1) since Feb. 28, and StatFox Scott is 55% ATS (39-32-1) since Feb. 3. The experts are a collective 55% ATS (153-127-4) since February began, and Scott is now 54% ATS (108-93-2) for the season, while Gary is 53% ATS (88-77-5) and Brian is 52% ATS (109-101-4). For NBA Totals, Gary is a stellar 67% (12-6) since March 7, Brian is 64% (7-4) since March 13, and Scott is 62% (16-10-3) since Feb. 22 to raise his season record to 56.4% (92-71-3) in Totals.

The Celtics have been fine since losing PG Rajon Rondo to a season-ending knee injury. They’re 16-8 SU without Rondo, though they’re only 5-7 SU on the road. Their success has come thanks to smothering defense and All-Star play from Paul Pierce (18.7 PPG). Pierce is averaging 20.4 PPG on 51.9% FG, 6.5 RPG and 6.1 APG while essentially running the point over his past 10 games. SF Jeff Green (11.7 PPG) has also played at a high level of late, going for 16.5 PPG on 49.4% FG since the All-Star break. Defensively, the Celtics are holding opponents to 94.2 PPG, 42.6% FG and 29.3% on threes over their 24 games without Rondo.

While the Mavs have only an outside shot at the postseason, they’ve had a good month. They’re 7-4 SU and ATS in March and are playing great offensively, averaging 103.7 PPG and hitting 49.8% FG and 42.7% of threes. Veterans Dirk Nowitzki (16.4 PPG) and Vince Carter (13.1 PPG) are carrying a heavy load offensively. Nowitzki is averaging 17.5 PPG and shooting 52.1% FG this month, while Carter has added 14.5 PPG on 50.9% FG and 49.1% from three. Over the past five seasons, Nowitzki (who missed the previous game against the Celtics this year) is averaging 27.0 PPG on 49.7% FG against Boston. The Mavs are also expected to have SF Shawn Marion (11.7 PPG, 7.9 RPG) back in the lineup after the veteran missed the previous eight games with a calf injury.