The Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns lock horns in the second round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Will the Mavs open the series up with a win? Or will the Suns take Game 1?
Check out our preview below of this Mavs vs. Suns 2022 NBA Playoffs matchup.
Despite missing Luka Doncic in the first two games of the first round against the Utah Jazz, the Mavs were able to come through with a series win in just six games. With Doncic now healthy to being a new round in the playoffs, the Mavericks will have a full stack heading to Game 1 against Phoenix. Doncic averaged 29. Points, 10.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists against the Jazz, while Jalen Brunson is coming off a fantastic showing in that series, putting up 27.8 points average. Dallas is hoping that it’s outside shooting remains hot. The Mavs are leading all teams in the playoffs with 15.5 3-pointers made per game on 37.1 percent accuracy. Maxi Kleber will play a crucial role in this series, as his size and ability to stretch the floor will be needed to take Deandre Ayton out of the paint. Kleber is shooting 51.6 percent from deep in the postseason, and while that’s hard to sustain against a tough Suns team, he will still be attracting enough attention to open things up for the othe shooters.
The Mavs are 8-1-1 against the spread in their last 10 games overall.
The Suns took care of business in the first round, eliminating the stubborn New Orleans Pelicans in six games. Phoenix flexed its muscle in the last two games of that series, with Chris Paul turning on the heat. Paul went 14/14 for 33 points in the series-clinching Game 6 victory. Doncic is definitely going to be the primary focus of Phoenix’s defense and fortunately for the Suns, they have one of the best perimeter defenders in the league today in the form of Mikal Bridges. Back in the regular season, the Suns limited Dallas to only 101.0 points per game on just 42.1 percent shooting from the floor. Phoenix also seems to have the depth advantage in the middle. Apar from Ayton, the Suns also have JaVale McGee and Bismack Biyombo, two solid rim protectors with great rebounding skills.
The Suns are 5-5 against the spread in their last 10 games at home.
