The Phoenix Suns edged the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, 130-126, in what could be a preview of the Western Conference Finals…or could be a meeting of frustrated teams who depart the playoffs early. The four superstars in the game (Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving for Dallas, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant for Phoenix) combined for 137 points, and what ended up giving Phoenix the edge was Chris Paul’s shooting, as he nailed three clutch shots in the fourth period, including a pair of three-balls, and four three-pointers from seldom-used Ish Wainwright. The Mavericks opted to focus on Booker and Durant with their defense, and Paul made them pay. Both teams have depth problems, though, that are already apparent. Dallas is 2-5 with both Doncic and Irving, but all five losses have come down to the last minute of the game. We will see whether either team learns to add getting defensive stops to its list of priorities, and whether either team can get enough out of their supporting cast to advance in the playoffs.
Check out our top two NBA betting picks from the basketball games as we start Week 21.
NBA News: Top NBA Bets for Week 21
Boston Celtics (+6.5) at Cleveland Cavaliers (O/U 218.5) (7:00 pm ET)
Monday, March 6
Boston (45-20) will be playing its third game in four days when they face the Cavaliers on the road on Monday night, and they will arrive in the middle of a stretch in which they have lost three of four, losing to the Nets on Friday and the Knicks on Sunday. Boston did see Cleveland on Wednesday, picking up a 117-113 win in a nailbiter. Boston got 41 points, 11 boards and eight assists from Jayson Tatum. However, things fell apart on Friday, as they let a 28-point lead slip away against Brooklyn and only scored 41 points after halftime. On Sunday, they lost to the Knicks in double overtime, 131-129. They did not have center Robert Williams, who left Friday’s game and will miss at least a week. Malcolm Brogdon (ankle) missed Sunday’s game and is questionable for Monday. Cleveland’s defense is tops in the NBA, permitting just 106.4 points per game, so the Celtics will have their work cut out for them.
Cleveland (40-26) has not come out of the All-Star break well, turning a seven-game winning streak going in into a stretch of four losses in five games, including that loss to Boston on Wednesday. They did have an impressive game on Saturday, routing Detroit, 114-90, behind 21 points from Darius Garland, 20 from Donovan Mitchell and a 16-point, 11-rebound performance from Evan Mobley. Mitchell did sprain a finger in the third quarter but is slated to play Monday. Cleveland to win and cover.
New Orleans Pelicans (+5.5) at Sacramento Kings (O/U 236.5) (10:00 pm ET)
Monday, March 6
New Orleans (31-33) meets the Kings for the second time this season; in their first meeting, the Pelicans rolled, 136-104. In their last game, though, the Pelicans lost at Golden State, 108-99, giving them five losses in six games. The one-time West leaders are now in tenth place, tied with Utah and just a game ahead of the Lakers. In their last eight games, the Pelicans have covered the spread just two times. New Orleans surged to a 14-point lead after the first period, but that lead dwindled to three by halftime and disappeared in the third. The Pelicans shot just 44.2% from the floor for the night, led by 25 points from CJ McCollum, but the Warriors made 51.3% of their shots.
Sacramento (37-26) saw their five-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday as they lost to Minnesota, 138-134. The Kings are now third in the West. They have won 10 of their last 15 straight up but have only covered in five of their last ten games. In the loss to Minnesota, the Kings were on fire offensively, knocking down 60% of their shots overall and going 20 of 39 from behind the arc, but the Timberwolves made 55.1% of their shots and went 14 of 27 from downtown. Four different Kings had at least 20 points, but the defense could not keep the Timberwolves from winning. Kings to win and cover.
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