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The defending Western Conference champion Suns needed six games to get by the No. 8 seed in the West but, nonetheless, now begin a conference semi-finals series with the Mavericks Monday night in Phoenix. The Suns, owners of home-court advantage for this series, are lined as -300 favorites to advance to the conference finals, with Dallas getting +230 as the underdog. Here's how we homeworked Game 1 of this series, with our <b>free NBA playoffs betting pick</b>.
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NBA Betting Odds<br />
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The NBA playoffs betting lines opened Phoenix as a six-point favorite for this Game 1, with an over/under of right around 212.5. Early betting action then dipped the Suns to -5.5 and bumped that total to 214.5. Anyone thinking Dallas might steal Game 1 outright could get upwards of +200 on the NBA betting money line.
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Mavericks-Suns Game 1 NBA Betting Preview<br />
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Dallas reached this conference semi-finals series by beating Utah in six games in a first-round series, putting the Jazz away with a 98-96 victory at Salt Lake City last Thursday. The Mavericks lost the first game of that series without F Luca Doncic, then won four of the next five games, the last two with their leading scorer back on the floor. Stretching back into the last couple of weeks of the regular season, Dallas is 11-3 SU, 10-4 ATS over its last 14 games.
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Phoenix, meanwhile, advanced to this conference semi-finals by beating New Orleans in six games in another first-round series, putting the Pelicans away with a 115-109 victory last Thursday. The Suns split the first four games of that series with the No. 8 seed, then won Games 5 and 6 to put it away.
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Phoenix clinched the No. 1 seed in the West with a bunch of games to spare but going back a month, it's only 6-6 SU, 6-6 ATS its last 12 times out.
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The Suns finished 12 games ahead of the Mavs in the regular-season standings and swept the season series three games to none. But we should point out Doncic missed two of those games with injuries. Also, Dallas played 2-1 ATS, covering as a dog of eight and 8.5 points.
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On the injury front, both Doncic and Phoenix G Devin Booker missed first-round games, then came back. Bettors would be wise to keep an eye on both of those guys from here on out.
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<span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="color:#008000;"><span style="background-color:#ffffff;">Get more details:</span></span> <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/nba/matchup/1652591">Dallas at Phoenix 5/2/22 Betting Stats</a></span>
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NBA Betting Trends<br />
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Dallas played 23-18 SU, 23-17 ATS on the road this season, then 2-1 SU and 3-0 ATS in the first round at Utah.
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Phoenix played 32-9 SU but only 19-22 ATS at home this season, then 2-1 both SU and ATS at home in the first round against New Orleans
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Totals Report<br />
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This season, the Under was 50-31 in Mavericks games, which averaged 213 total points.
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This season, the Under was 41-40 in Suns games, which averaged 222 points.
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This season, the Under is 2-1 in Mavs-Suns games, which averaged 210 points.
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