Phoenix Suns vs Dallas Mavericks
The Suns and Mavs open up the ESPN triple-header at 6am in the NBA’s second last regular season day (all times AEST).
The race for the eighth seed in the West has been the highlight of the Bubble play and is as tight as we’ve ever seen. The Blazers hold down the eight seed by just half a game, with the Grizzlies, Suns and Spurs all tied with the same record just behind them.
Who would’ve thought Phoenix would be the premier team in the Bubble? The Suns have been on a serious tear in Orlando, going 7-0. And they haven’t been easy beat wins, knocking off the likes of Dallas, the Clippers, Indiana, Miami and OKC.
Devin Booker has arguably been MVP of the Bubble, averaging an impressive 35 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists in his last three, while shooting 52.2 per cent from the field and 96.8 per cent from the line.
The Mavs have gone 3-4 during their time in Orlando and are coming off a 134-131 overtime loss to a red-hot Damian Lillard on Wednesday. They have been largely locked into the six seed during the restart play.
Luka Doncic has been at his brilliant best, putting up 32.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 11.6 in his last five.
The Suns are 2-1 against the Mavs this season.
Tip: Phoenix to win $1.43
Utah Jazz vs San Antonio Spurs
Two Western Conference sides collide at 8.30am in a matchup which could have huge ramifications on playoff seeding.
The Jazz currently sit sixth but could move up to fourth if they win this and other results go their way. However, given the depth of the West and lack of true home court advantage, the playoff seedings don’t feel quite as important this year.
Utah have been poor during the Bubble, going 2-5 and have dropped their last three. They would want to get some sort of momentum going before the postseason begins.
They face a Spurs side hungry for victory looking to solidify a playoff spot. Gregg Popovich has coached this LaMarcus Aldridge-less Spurs team tremendously, going 5-2 during the Bubble.
A team many thought were just in Orlando to make up the numbers have genuine playoff aspirations and will be searching for their fourth straight win.
The Spurs are 3-0 against the Jazz this season.
Tip: Spurs to win $1.30
Brooklyn Nets vs Portland Trail Blazers
Brooklyn and Portland close out the ESPN schedule in an inter-conference clash at 11am.
The Nets have been strong during the Bubble behind the play of Jarret Allen and Caris LeVert. They have been locked into the sixth seed but haven’t treated these games like practice and thus take some momentum into the playoffs.
They meet a surging Blazers outfit behind the lead of a fired up Lillard. If we’ve learnt one thing from the Bubble, it’s don’t antagonise the Blazers superstar. After some on-court and social media beef with Clippers duo Paul George and Patrick Beverley, Lillard has erupted.
The All-Star point guard dropped 51 points against the Sixers before blowing up for an equal career-high 61 points against the Mavericks to guide his team to back-to-back wins.
CJ McCollum has reportedly been playing through a back fracture, but this team looks reinvigorated with Jusus Nurkic back and Lillard playing at an MVP level. They are 5-2 during the Bubble and can lock up the eight seed with a win here.
The Nets ousted the Blazers in their only earlier meeting this season.
Tip: Portland to win @ $1.25.
