Dallas Mavericks vs Phoenix Suns 5/2/22: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Predictions
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Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns Matchup Preview (5/2/22)
Look no further than last season for the last time a No. 4 seed has upset a No. 1 seed in the Conference Semi-Finals. Could it happen again? That is what we are here to see. On Monday, the Dallas Mavericks will travel west to face the Phoenix Suns in the Footprint Center. Phoenix has been the best team in the NBA all season long, but it had an upset scare in the first round. However, the Suns slid past the New Orleans Pelicans due to impressive shooting and efficiency; they shot a scorching 52.3% from the field in those six games. It won’t be that easy with Dallas, though. The Mavericks rank first in opponent points per game, sixth in defensive efficiency, first in opponent 3P% (three-point percentage), and fifth in opponent eFG% (effective field goal percentage) on the season. That could spell bad news for the Phoenix Suns, who have had dry streaks at times, especially from deep. I cover the betting odds for this game below, so be sure to check it out!
Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns Betting Odds
Phoenix will have a much harder time in the second round against this Dallas Mavericks team. Dallas was able to jump out to an early series lead without Luka Doncic in the lineup and then closed the door on the Utah Jazz shortly after he returned. What concerns me about the Suns team was their inability to truly separate from the Pelicans. New Orleans only lost by six points in Game Six, and it took a flawless (literally) game from Chris Paul to squeak it out on the road. Still, I think Phoenix gets the win at home in Game One and covers the spread. Booker should be logging more minutes and I expect him to shoot much better than he did in his last game. The Suns are a disciplined team that knows how to win key games at home.
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How To Watch
Date: 5/2/22
Time: 10:00 PM ET
Arena: Footprint Center – Phoenix, AZ
Channel: TNT
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Dallas Mavericks Starting Lineup
PG: Luka Doncic
SG: Jalen Brunson
SF: Reggie Bullock
PF: Dorian Finney-Smith
C: Dwight Powell
Dallas Mavericks Analysis
It is incredible how well the Dallas Mavericks played in the first three games of the series without Luka Doncic. Despite Utah’s organizational dysfunction, it has a much more talented roster than Dallas without Doncic. Still, the Mavs had multiple players step up in a big way, including Jalen Brunson, who averaged 32 points, five rebounds, and five assists in their first three games. Even though Doncic returned for the next three games in the series, Brunson still posted roughly 24 points per game in that span. That combination has been lethal, especially in the second half of the season when Dallas finally decided to start Doncic and Brunson in the backcourt. The other massive catalyst for the Mavs was the acquisition of Spencer Dinwiddie, or more importantly, the departure of Kristaps Porzingis. The Mavs turned into one of the best defensive teams in the NBA since the start of the new year and have looked like a capable offensive team, too, ranking seventh out of every NBA team in the playoffs in offensive rating.
Phoenix Suns Starting Lineup
PG: Chris Paul
SG: Devin Booker
SF: Mikal Bridges
PF: Jae Crowder
C: Deandre Ayton
Phoenix Suns Analysis
Suns fans can momentarily wipe the sweat from their brow. Phoenix escaped from the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round; it took a historical game from Chris Paul to catapult it to the next round. If Paul did not play as well as he did, the Suns easily could have dropped Game Six. In that game, Paul finished with an astounding 33 points on 14-for-14 from the floor, which is the most consecutive field goals in the history of the playoffs! That performance certainly made up for the four-point game in Game Four. Luckily, Devin Booker is back and should be at full health for the Western Conference Semi-Finals. Initially, there were concerns over whether Booker would be able to return at all due to a hamstring injury; however, the Suns’ trainers did a great job mitigating further damage and getting him back for the last game against the Pels.
