After a 112-97 win in Game 5 against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Phoenix Suns are are headed home for a chance to close out this first-round 2022 NBA Playoffs series. Will the Suns finish it off in six games? Or will the Pelicans force a Game 7? Check out our preview below of this Suns vs. Pelicans game.
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Betting Preview for the Phoenix Suns vs New Orleans Pelicans NBA Playoffs Round 1 Game 6 on April 28, 2022
Where: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans
When: Thursday, April 28, 2022, 7:30 PM ET
Line: Phoenix Suns (-2.5) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (+2.5) – view all 2022-22 NBA lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Phoenix Suns (-2.5)
Regular Season Record: 64-18
Chris Paul was not going to let his stinker in Game 4 negatively affect his performance in Game 6, as the veteran point guard showed poise and total control to lead the Suns to a pivotal victory. Paul scored 22 points with 11 assists and 3 steals, while Mikal Bridges exploded for 31 points on 12/17 shooting from the field to go with 4 blocks. And it’s about to get better for the Suns with the looming return of Devin Booker. The sweet-shooting Booker is reportedly expected to play in Game 6 after missing contests due to a hamstring issue. Before he got injured, Booker put up an average of 28.0 points on over 52 percent shooting in the series. As a team, the Suns are making 50.9 percent of their shots in the series.
The Suns are 5-1 against the spread in their last six Thursday games.
Betting on the New Orleans Pelicans (+2.5)
Regular Season Record: 36-46
The Pelicans’ offense couldn’t follow up on its great performance in Game 4, as New Orleans hit just 40.0 percent of its shots from the field in Game 5. The team’s outside shooting was particularly salty, going only 5/25 from deep. Nevertheless, the Pelicans are still the better 3-point shooting team in the series, as they are connecting on 35.8 percent of their triples, while the Suns are only making 30.8 percent. With Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum still around, the Pelicans will always have the offense to make Phoenix’s defense bend. The two combined for 43 points in Game 5, though they were an inefficient 14/41 from the field. Playing at home in Game 6 could get Ingram and McCollum sinking baskets at a much higher rate just like Jonas Valanciunas, who’s been a rock in the middle for the Pelicans. Valanciunas had 17 points and 11 boards in Game 5. He is also averaging 15.4 points and 15.6 rebounds in the series.
The Pelicans are 7-1 against the spread in their last eight games after failing to cover in the previous contest.
Writer’s Prediction
The Suns win, 115-104.
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