The 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals continue Monday, May 2, so we have prepared the best Mavericks vs. Suns betting pick and odds, as Phoenix hosts Dallas for Game 1 at Footprint Center.  

According to BetDSI Sportsbook, the Suns are 5.5-point home favorites. The Mavs are listed as +190 moneyline underdogs, while the totals sit at 214.5 points. Dallas and Phoenix met each other three times this past regular season, and the Suns swept the Mavericks. 

The Mavs eliminated the Jazz on the back of their defense         

The Dallas Mavericks (56-32; 52-34-2 ATS) are coming off a 98-96 victory at the Utah Jazz in Game 6 of their Western Conference first-round series. The Mavs held their rivals to only 42.9% shooting from the field and 25.7% from beyond the arc to clinch their spot in the conference semifinals. Dallas went 17-for-43 from downtown (39.5%), and Luka Doncic led the way with a line of 24 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and a couple of steals and blocks. 

After missing the first three contests against the Jazz due to an injury, Doncic has averaged 29.0 points, 10.7 boards, and 5.7 dimes over the previous three games. Jalen Brunson has been an X-factor for the Mavericks. The 6-foot-1 guard dropped 41 points on Utah in Game 2 while tallying 27.8 points a night throughout the series. 

The Mavericks were yielding 108.4 points per 100 possessions to the Jazz, who made only 44.4% of their field goals and 27.4% of their 3-pointers. On the other side of the ball, the Mavs were tallying 114.8 points per 100 possessions on 44.5% shooting from the field and 37.1% from deep. 

The Suns relied on Chris Paul to overcome Devin Booker’s injury                  

The Phoenix Suns (68-20; 48-40 ATS) outlasted New Orleans 115-109 in Game 6 of their Western Conference first-round series to eliminate the resilient Pelicans from the playoffs. The top-seeded Suns got Devin Booker back, but the three-time All-Star had only 13 points and three assists. However, Chris Paul stepped up and went 14-for-14 from the field and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe, finishing with 33 points and eight assists. 

Booker suffered a hamstring injury in Game 2 and had to miss the next three contests against the Pels. Chris Paul has led the way for the Suns, averaging 22.3 points and 11.3 assists a night while shooting 56.7% from the field. 

Phoenix outscored New Orleans 117.8-115.6 per 100 possessions. The Suns made 52.3% of their field goals and only 31.9% of their 3-pointers, handing out 26.8 assists per game. They also averaged just 11.0 turnovers a night. 

Trends:

Dallas:

  • 4-15 ATS in the last 19 games against Phoenix 

Phoenix:

  • 6-3 ATS in the last nine games overall 

Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns Pick 

The Mavericks have covered the spread in two of their three encounters with the Suns last regular season. However, Dallas is only 0-9 straight up and 2-7 ATS in its previous nine meetings with Phoenix. The Suns have outlasted the Mavs by seven or more points in each of their previous three dates. 

Hereof, I’m expecting the Suns to extend their dominance over the Mavericks. Phoenix is one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, and the Suns should know how to deal with Luka Doncic and the Mavericks’ backcourt. 

Pick: Take Phoenix Suns -5.5 at -110    

The Total:

The Mavericks have averaged only 91.2 possessions per 48 minutes in their first-round series against the Jazz. On the other side, the Suns have recorded 94.7 possessions per 48 minutes in the Pelicans series, so I’m backing the under on the totals. 

Both teams are capable of playing tough defense. The Mavs will certainly look to slow down things, while the under is 6-2 in the last eight meetings between Dallas and Phoenix. 

Pick: Go under 214.5 points at -110