The Dallas Mavericks entered the second-round series against the Phoenix Suns as the heavy underdog. There were even others that expected the Suns to wrap it up quickly and advance to the much anticipated matchup versus the Golden State Warriors, especially after dominating the first two games. Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson, and the rest of the team did not just bow down and even forced a deciding Game 7.

 

The sensational regular season of the Suns gives them the advantage of having Game 7 at Footprint Center. The Mavericks have the confidence and momentum after the dominant Game 6 victory in Dallas as they have limited the impact of Chris Paul over the past three games. Paul may finally his find footing in Game 7, but Dallas will still be primed and ready to compete for 48 minutes and possibly advance to their first West Finals since 2011.

This highly-touted match will be exceptional, along with three bold predictions for Dallas in Game 7.

Mavericks Game 7 Predictions

Luka Doncic will have a 30-point triple double

Luka Doncic fans will always remember his Game 7 stat line against the Los Angeles Clippers last season, but the Mavericks failed to come out on top. Doncic's spectacular numbers have still been present in this current playoff run, but it is his teammates that have stepped up to the plate, which has been critical to their wins in the postseason.

In this Game 7 tilt, Phoenix will likely hope that Doncic will be the only dominant individual from the Dallas because they cannot afford guys like Spencer Dinwiddie or Reggie Bullock to convert several threes. Even with this mindset, the anticipation for Luka Doncic to have a superb performance highlighted by more than 30 points will be a realistic prediction for coach Jason Kidd and the Mavericks squad.

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Spencer Dinwiddie will swing the tide for the Mavericks

The talent of Spencer Dinwiddie has been unquestioned ever since the two fabulous seasons he showcased with the Brooklyn Nets. That raised his value as other franchises were seriously interested in his services, but the problem with him for the Mavericks and previously with the Washington Wizards has been his inconsistency.

That has been very evident in this series as well because when he is on a tear, any defensive scheme of Phoenix would not prevent him from racking up in scoring points. In that crucial Game 6 victory, Dinwiddie chipped in with 15 points with five made three-pointers, which gave Doncic more space to operate on the floor. Furthermore, Doncic could possibly be contained at some junctures and having Dinwiddie as an option to create offense for himself and others will be a huge plus for the Mavericks.

The Mavericks will convert 15+ long-range bombs

The formula in beating the Suns is swinging the ball around and forcing them to chase the shooters all the way to the corner. Coach Monty Williams constructs his defensive principles through Luka Doncic's strengths, but Williams knows that it is the role players who have killed them, possibly in a vital Game 7 as well.

The defense will hound Doncic for the whole game, but the reliable perimeter shooting of guys like Dinwiddie, Bullock, and Dorian Finney-Smith will lessen the opportunities of Phoenix to help on Doncic when he drives through the lane. These open looks from long distance does not only start through the half court offense, but it is also due to their sensational defense under the tutelage of Kidd. He is able to motivate everyone in the rotation to contribute defensively, which leads to transition or semi-transition chances for the ball handlers to create shots for the team.

With Game 7 for all the marbles, this would be a definite nip-and-tuck affair between both franchises. It would be an intriguing matchup between Dallas and Phoenix for the final time this season. These three predictions could be achieved by the Mavericks and if they execute it tremendously, the probability of them pulling it off would be exponentially better.