NBA Playoffs Tips & Preview - Mavericks @ Suns (Game 7)

The playoffs are heating up and the daily preview takes it to the rim with NBA tips for the Game 7 decider between Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns.

NBA Tips – Dallas Mavericks @ Phoenix Suns

10:00 (AEST), Mon 16th May @ Footprint Center, Phoenix

History: Played 186: Suns 103 V Mavericks 83

Last meeting: May 13, 2022: Mavericks 113 d Suns 86 at American Airlines Arena

Final Thoughts: Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks are going to Game 7 in the Western Conference Semi-finals after both teams scored blowout home wins in the past two encounters.

The top-seeded Suns chalked up a wire-to-wire 121-114 victory in Game 1 in Phoenix and dominated the second half of Game 2 to run away 129-109 winners. But returning to Dallas proved just the tonic for the Mavs. After totalling just 22 points in the first two games, Jalen Brunson top-scored with 28 points in a 103-94 Game 3 victory. The Mavericks’ shooting came to the fore in a 111-101 Game 4 win. Dorian Finney-Smith went off for eight threes in a team total of 20 from 44 attempts.

The Suns reverted to their NBA-leading form back in Phoenix, however, pulling away to a 110-80 result in Game 5. Defensive pressure and 28 points from Devin Booker underpinned the vital go-ahead win.

Luka-driven Mavs refuse to throw in towel

Facing elimination, the Mavs responded with a 113-86 win at home in Game 6. Luka Doncic, who has scored 26-plus points in every game since dropping 45 in the series opener, dominated with 33 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals. Spencer Dinwiddie came off the bench with five three-pointers after an anonymous Game 5 showing, while Reggie Bullock had 19 points and 7 rebounds.

Booker was restricted to just 19 points on 6-of-17 shooting, while Chris Paul (13 pts, 2 reb, 4 ast) struggle to impart his influence. Deandre Ayton (21 pts, 11 reb) was a standout for the Suns, who shot just 6-of-18 from three-point range.

Unsurprisingly, the Suns are warm favourites to take out the decider on home court – but they look pretty short at $1.36. Every game in this series has gone to the hosts by a margin of at least seven points, but with a fired-up Doncic anything is possible for the Mavericks and I’ll be taking them with a handy start.