Injuries have taken plenty of steam off the Dallas Mavericks. They’re not looking like a team that could win its first playoff series since winning the title in 2011. But the Phoenix Suns are in the midst of their own struggles, and could be in for a rough ride against Dallas’ frontcourt-heavy approach.
Can the Mavs bounce back with a big win over Phoenix? Read on as we preview this heated Western showdown. There’s plenty more NBA action in store tonight. Dive into the heated playoff race in the Western Conference with our complete previews for Rockets vs. Spurs and Pelicans vs. Grizzlies.
Technically, the Phoenix Suns aren’t eliminated from the playoffs just yet. But their chances of making the postseason are slim to none. The Suns can still take heart to the fact that they’ve beaten Dallas in all three meetings thus far this season, going 3-0 against the spread.
[sc:NBA240banner ]But Phoenix is shorthanded heading into this game. Center Alex Len will miss at least one more game, while trade deadline acquisition Brandon Knight may not play again this month. Their struggles were apparent in a 96-69 loss to Atlanta on Tuesday night, the first time they were held under 70 points in 26 months.
The Suns were heavily outrebounded 54-37 without their leading rebounder, Len (6.6 rebounds per game). But he may not be missed much with how Markieff Morris has played against Dallas this season. Morris is averaging 16.7 points and nine rebounds in the three meetings against Dallas this season. He had a double-double (22 points and 10 rebounds) in their other meeting at American Airlines Center.
Morris’ twin brother, Marcus, also had a big game against the Mavericks in a 98-92 win on March 22. Marcus finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds starting alongside his brother.
Eric Bledsoe, Phoenix’ leading scorer with 17.1 points per game, has struggled to find his shot recently. He’s averaging just 14 points on 40 percent shooting (23 percent from three-point range) over his last five games. But Bledsoe has played well against Dallas this season. He’s averaging 18 points in the three games against the Mavericks thus far. He had a triple-double (16 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists) in a 124-115 win in December.
The Suns are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games on the road.
Betting on the Dallas Mavericks
The Phoenix Suns aren’t the only ones hobbling toward the end of the season. The Dallas Mavericks have lost two of their last eight games, and stars Chandler Parsons and Rajon Rondo are nursing their respective knee injuries.
Parsons’ likely replacement, Richard Jefferson, is playing through an ailing toe. He hasn’t come close to providing the Mavs the same amount of offensive output as Parsons 15.7 points per game. Jefferson is averaging just 5.5 points per game this season. Devin Harris takes on Rondo’s role as the Mavs’ primary playmaker, but he’s making less than half of the former Boston star’s 6.5 assists per game this season.
Dirk Nowitzki is the only player in the top eight of the Dallas rotation who has remained healthy since the arrival of Amar’e Stoudemire in February. Nowitzki is averaging 19 points per game over Dallas’ last four games, while Stoudemire is averaging 12.5 points in 17 minutes per contest off the bench.
Starting center Tyson Chandler has been dominant in the frontcourt over the past few games. He has three double-doubles while averaging 8.8 points and 10 rebounds over Dallas’ last five games. Dallas’ trio of bigs (Chandler, Nowitzki and Stoudemire) should have its fair share of success against Phoenix’ sketchy inside defense which surrenders 45.4 points in the paint per game this season, 28th in the league.
With three days off since losing to Golden State, the Mavs should’ve had ample rest heading into this game. Dallas is 10-6 when given two to three days off this season.
