The 2024 NBA Championship has arrived, with the Boston Celtics, seeded at the top, set to clash against the fifth-seeded Dallas Mavericks.

This marks the inaugural encounter between these two formidable teams in the Finals. The Celtics secured their Finals berth by sweeping past the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals, while the Mavericks triumphed over the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games to clinch their spot from the West.

The much-anticipated series is poised to showcase a thrilling duel between dynamic pairs: Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving facing off against Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Any of these exceptional players could emerge as the Finals MVP. Additionally, fans can anticipate the return of Kristaps Porzingis to the hardwood following his recovery from a right calf strain suffered in the opening round.

As anticipation mounts, the burning question remains: which team will hoist the coveted Larry O’Brien Trophy by month’s end? With Game 1 slated for Thursday at Boston’s TD Garden (8:30 ET on ABC), our NBA pundits are weighing in on the series’ outcome, including their predictions for the NBA Finals MVP.