The one factor you could possibly match between the sixth and the twelfth seed within the Western Convention proper now could be the thinning endurance the remainder of the league has with Dillon Brooks. Seven groups are preventing for that assured 6-slot within the playoffs and the 4 spots within the play-in match. You’ll see three of them tonight in ESPN’s doubleheader.
The Warriors, presently sixth at 37-36, are on the highway in Dallas. Outdoors of 90049, Golden State hasn’t been so golden. The defending champs have received only a mind-boggling eight video games away from the Chase Middle; in final yr’s playoffs, they received 5. They nonetheless have the age-defying Steph Curry who’s averaging 31.3 factors for the reason that All-Star break and hitting a ridiculous 45.4% from behind the arc. Klay Thompson has rounded into kind as effectively, scoring 23.8 factors, 5.1 rebounds, and a pair of.3 assists. The Mavericks are only a half-game behind, however each Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic are questionable heading into the crucial matchup. Doncic has missed the final 5 video games with a strained left thigh and Dallas has received simply two of them. Whereas their report doesn’t replicate it (6-7), Irving has performed effectively for the Mavs, averaging 28.4 factors and 6.1 assists.
With out Kevin Durant, the Suns (38-33) have been jockeying with the Clippers (38-35) for homecourt benefit in a possible 4 vs. 5 collection. After profitable their first three video games with KD, Phoenix has managed simply two wins over their final six video games with out him. For Phoenix, Devin Booker has achieved a lot of the heavy lifting; he’s 4th within the league in scoring (32.4 factors per sport) since All-Star Weekend. In LA, the Lakers have weathered LeBron James’ absence since he “heard a pop” with a 6-5 report. They’re presently on the surface trying in at a play-in spot at 35-37 on the again of Anthony Davis’ All-NBA play. The Lakers end off the week with three straight house video games at The Crypt earlier than hitting the highway for a five-game highway journey.
With the uncertainty surrounding Irving’s and Doncic’s availability and regardless of Golden State’s highway report, the Warriors are 1.5-point favorites visiting the Mavericks. Within the night time cap, the Suns are also road favorites in LA at -1.5, too.
Whereas Booker has carried the scoring load, Chris Paul has used the ultimate stretch of the common season to spherical into playoff kind. After an underwhelming February, CP3 is averaging a double-double in March. Our mates at DraftKings have an attractive fast single sport parlay for Suns-Lakers: if Paul scores +20 factors and dishes out 5+ assists and grabs 5+ rebounds, DK provides you with +600 odds. With one among his banana boat buddies on the sidelines, we’re betting he places on a present in Hollywood.
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