Game Preview
After the first two games of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns, one thing is clear: Luka Doncic needs more help. He’s averaging 40 points per game, but Dallas is down 2-0.
Phoenix won Game 2 by 20 points (129-109). Chris Paul and Devin Booker combined for 58 points, while Jae Crowder added 15. The Suns’ rotation has been crucial for their success. In Game 2, only one of seven players coming off the bench failed to score.
“It all goes back to the work. You can’t cheat the game. You’ve got to do the strength and conditioning, you’ve got to lift, you’ve got to get your rest, you got to get your shots up. When you do that, you live with the results,” Paul explained.
As for the Mavericks, only Doncic managed to score more than 16 points. Jalen Brunson, who had a monster first-round series against the Utah Jazz, has been missing. He finished Game 2 with only nine points after shooting 3-for-12.
“We can’t win with just him -Doncic- scoring 30 a night, not at this time of year. And we’re playing the best team in the league. We got to get other guys going,” head coach Jason Kidd said.
In Game 3, the Mavericks need to take the reins right from the start. Phoenix is 52-0 when leading after three quarters, including the playoffs. The good news for the Mavs’ (pk-110) is that the series moves to American Airlines Center, where they’re 8-1 straight up in their last nine games.
Regarding the total (219), keep in mind that it has gone over in nine of Dallas’ last 11 games played in May.
Tim Hardaway Jr. (Dallas) and Dario Saric (Phoenix), who haven’t played at all in the playoffs, remain out.
Summing up, it’s a do-or-die game for Dallas as no team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 deficit.
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