It’s the best two words in sports: Game 7. That’s what the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns will find themselves in this Sunday, with the winner heading straight to the Western Conference Finals. So, which team will advance to the next round?

Catch this game live on Monday, May 16, Manila time

Away: Dallas Mavericks (3-3/0-3 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Luka Doncic
  • SG: Jalen Brunson
  • SF: Reggie Bullock
  • PF: Dorian Finney-Smith
  • C: Dwight Powell

After six games in the series, it’s pretty much obvious to say that the Mavericks are no easy customers for Phoenix, having forced the matchup to go the distance. In their 113-86 home win in Game 6, the Mavs’ renowned defense crippled Devin Booker and the Suns. Booker even had eight turnovers, while Chris Paul lost control of the ball five times. Overall, the Suns had 22 turnovers, off which the Mavs scored 29 points – 23 more than what Phoenix’s scored off Dallas’ seven turnovers. Ruining the Suns’ rhythm by hounding Booker and Paul is going to be easier said than done, but that will have to continue for the Mavs. With the series headed to  Game 7, there’s also the probability that the one-day rest is not going to be enough for Paul’s 37-year-old body to fully recover. The Mavericks, who are 7-3 ATS  in their last 10 games, are also looking to stay hot from deep after going 16/39 in Game 6. 

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Home: Phoenix Suns (3-3/3-0 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Chris Paul
  • SG: Devin Booker
  • SF: Mikal Bridges
  • PF: Jae Crowder
  • C: Deandre Ayton

One clear thing that is in the Suns’ favor is that Game 7 will be in the desert. The Suns have not lost a home game in the second round, going 3-o, thus far. Two of those wins were decided by 20 points each. Hopefully for the Suns, flying back home would translate to Paul and Booker being more efficient and productive. Paul had 13 points in Game 6, while Booker was just 6/17 for 19 points. 

Deandre Ayton shined, though, as he had 21 points and 11 rebounds while making 10 of 16 attempts from the floor. What devastated the Suns the most in that loss was, again, their turnovers, but it’s highly unlikely that they are going to cough up the ball 22 times in back-to-back games, so look for more Phoenix possessions ending up with points scored this time around. In a huge game like this, the Suns are confident that their big guns will deliver the goods at home, where they went 32-9 straight up back in the regular season.

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Mavs cover (+6.0)

Over/Under: The Under hits (207.0).

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