Dallas Mavericks-Phoenix Suns: Match Preview, Stats, & Much More | 9 May

In the NBA, the Playoffs are a strong indicator of the major talent as the intensity on the defensive end picks up and we see various players floundering as the pressure gets up. In the Western Conference, the Warriors have taken a two-one lead and then we move to the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns. The Suns have a two-one lead in the series and in the last game, the Mavericks defense once again showed its teeth as the team won 103:94 as Jalen Brunson and Luka Doncic turned up the knob. Can the Suns recover from the last loss and take an imposing lead?

Handicap: Bookmakers from 22bet believe that the Phoenix Suns have the odds of 1.75 to win this game and despite a loss, they have seen an improvement in odds. It means that the bookmakers believe that the Suns will make certain adjustments and make a winning push. I align with the bookmakers and despite my pick not landing the last time, I’d take the Suns to win this game. I’d go for the handicap of at least 4 points. (Handicap 2 -4.5 for 2.14)

Player Props: Bookmakers at bet365 predict odds of 1.86 for Devin Booker Going Over 4.5 Assists here(At least 5 assists). Devin Booker has dished 6, 4, 8 assists in the last three games and it is a tricky prediction to make where he will land here. However, I will go “Over” here. (Player Props: Player Assists: Devin Booker Over 4.5 for 1.86)

Total: Bookmakers at 1xbet believe that the total of 214.5 (Over/Under) has the odds of 1.97 on either side. The first two games were in the 230-240 points range. However, in the last game, we saw a total of just 197, which fell 22 points below what the over/under was predicted in the last game. The Mavs’ home games have fallen below 210 more often than not and we saw that in the last game. I believe this will be a high-scoring game though. That is why I will still go “Over” here as I see the Suns coming up with a much better scoring effort. (Total Over 214.5 for 1.97)

This game is available on the NBA League Pass.

Turnovers were the major reason why the Suns lost the last game, a problem that you can’t usually attach to this team and 17 turnovers is surely not a usual occurrence for the squad. For the first time, the Playoffs, Paul had more than three turnovers, by contrast, Paul has turned it over 3 or more three times already, and his assists count is less than half of what he managed in the first round match-up versus the Pelicans. No player for the Suns could reach the 20 points mark and the pace of the Suns was stalled by the Mavs. The biggest difference was the third quarter where the Mavericks increased their lead from seven to 15 points and that is where the Suns lost their composure. Suns shot well, around 45% from the field, 46% from the three-point line but it was definitely the turnovers that made them lose the game last time around.

The Mavericks did well in not turning the ball over and as a result, they had more cracks at the basket. They committed just 8 of them compared to 17 by the Suns, and as a result, they had 14 extra attempts from the field. Finally, Jalen Brunson had a strong game, scoring 28 which is more than the first two games combined. Thanks to Brunson, Luka finally had someone who can help out on the scoring end in the backcourt and if it were not for Brunson, the Mavs would have probably lost as Luka shot just 36% on 25 shots. Maxi Kleber showed up once again, clicking on six of his nine shots. Reggie Bullock and Dorian-Finney Smith each made 4 triples but Spencer Dinwiddie’s struggles keep on resurfacing, as he shot just 2/7. Can the Mavs pull out another big performance?

• Suns most likely starting five: PG: Chris Paul | SG: Devin Booker | SF: Mikal Bridges | PF: Jae Crowder | C: Deandre Ayton;
• Key Bench Player: Cameron Johnson, Cameron Payne, JaVale McGee;
• Mavericks most likely starting five: PG: Jalen Brunson | PG: Luka Doncic | SF: Reggie Bullock| PF: Dorian Finney-Smith | C: Dwight Powell;
• Key Bench Players: Spencer Dinwiddie, Maxi Kleber.