The Phoenix Suns suffered a 103-94 road loss in Game 3 which spoiled Chris Paul’s 37th birthday. Will the Suns rebound and move up 3-1 in the series? Or will the Dallas Mavericks tie it all up before the series goes back to the desert? Check out our preview below of this Suns vs. Mavs 2022 NBA Playoffs game.
Chris Paul was uncharacteristically sloppy with the ball in Game 3. The Point God turned the ball over a total of seven times while finishing with just 12 points on 5/9 shooting from the field, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in 37 minutes. The Mavs’ defense also got to Paul, but Phoenix is one of those teams that just know how to make the right adjustments. That’s why the Suns lost consecutive games just three times in the regular season. In the playoffs, they have yet to lose back to back, so that’s a good sign for their chances to get back on track this Sunday afternoon on the road. Moreover, the Suns are also 4-0 against the spread in their last four games after a defeat. Meanwhile, the Suns continue to dominate Dallas on the glass. They are averaging over 10 rebounds more in the series than the Mavericks (43.3 rebounds per game to just 32.3 by Dallas.)
The Suns are 19-7 against the spread in their last 26 playoff games as a favorite.
Luka Doncic needed help, and that’s what he got in Game 3. That time around, Jalen Brunson broke out of his slump and finished the contest with 28 points to lead all scorers. Dorian Finney-Smith and Reggie Bullock stepped up big time as well, scoring 14 and 15 points, respectively, while combining for 8 of the Mavs’ 13 3-pointers. Doncic was not too shabby himself, producing 26 points on 11/25 shooting to go with 13 rebounds, and 9 assists in 34 minutes. The way the Mavs neutralized Paul in Game 3 was a terrific sign that Dallas’ stout defense had finally figured out a way to slow down Phoenix. There are some Mavs players who have yet to wake up like Spencer Dinwiddie, who just had 4 points on 2/7 shooting in Game 3, and Davis Bertans, who hasn’t found his touch yet in the series, but it might be just a matter of time before they finally put together strong performances.
The Mavericks are 5-1 against the spread in their last 6 Sunday games.
