It’s an east-meets-west kind of night in the NBA when the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Phoenix Suns for their regular-season finale, while the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks go at it for the first time this season at South Beach. Read on below for a quick look at both games.
It was just less than two weeks ago when these two teams went at it in Phoenix, where the Cavs had to really work for a 120-116 win. Their Big Three each finished with 20-plus points, with LeBron James’ 28 leading the way. The Cleveland defense, however, had no answer to the Suns’ hot-shooting backcourt tandem in Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker, who combined for 59 points on 24-of-42 shooting. The defending champs could find themselves in another down-to-the-wire game, or maybe even suffer an upset, if they allow either Bledsoe or Booker to heat up once more. Cleveland boasts an east-leading 18-3 home record this season.
Writer’s Prediction
Cleveland, this time, pummels the Suns en route to a dominant 116-100 victory.
Miami snapped a four-game skid by registering arguably its best win of the season. The Heat survived a triple-double from James Harden to beat the Rockets on Tuesday night, 109-103. Goran Dragic finished with game-highs of 21 points and eight assists, while Hassan Whiteside punched in a double-double with 14 points and 15 boards. The Heat also had three players contribute 15 or more points off the bench. It should be a sure win for them if Dragic and Whiteside continues receiving that kind of support from the second unit. Miami is 9-1 SU and 7-3 ATS in its last 10 meetings with Dallas, which is currently on a three-game winning streak.
