Betseeker’s expert tipsters have you covered for the best NBA tips and predictions for every game of the NBA playoffs.
Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals tips off Thursday with Dallas upstaging the Suns in the second-round to book a series with the Warriors.
Tune in from 11:00am for Dallas v Golden State on Kayo.
Best Bet
Is it possible that Golden State were low-key hoping to face Phoenix in the Conference Finals? Dallas match-up very well with the Warriors whether they go big or small, and have a 3-1 record against Golden State during the regular season.
Despite the Warriors not being full strength in all three losses to the Mavericks, it’s the way that Dallas defend which will be a concern for Golden State. Deandre Ayton (before he quit during Game 7) was the toughest match-up for the Mavericks in the second-round series with Phoenix, but the Warriors don’t have that offensive big which gives Dallas a huge chance to upstage Golden State.
Expect Reggie Bullock and Dorian Finney-Smith to get the duties on Steph Curry and Klay Thompson respectively, who will both use their length to trouble the splash brothers.
At the other end of the floor, who stops Luka Doncic? The Warriors will likely throw Andrew Wiggins at the star Slovenian, with Klay Thompson and Draymond Green likely to alternate on to him on different occasions, but we saw what he did against a quality defensive outfit in Phoenix and he’s every chance of producing something similar again. Like the +5.5 point head start in Game 1 for Luka’s men.
Next Best
With the Mavericks winning the last two against the Warriors, it was off the back of the acquisition of Spencer Dinwiddie from the Wizards.
Dinwiddie played a vital role in both of Dallas’ wins scoring 24 points against Golden State on February 27, and then 17 points and 7 assists in their March 3 win. In both of these victories Dinwiddie had a game-high in +/- emphasising he’s a handful for Golden State in this Jason Kidd 5-out system.
Although there was some negative commentary around Dinwiddie’s impact in the Phoenix series, he came good as Dallas’ third highest scorer averaging 11.4 points per game shooting the ball at 45% from the field and 51.6% from deep, scoring 15+ in their last two wins.
Scoring 15+ in 6 of the 13 playoff games this post-season, Dinwiddie is capable again against a good look in Golden State.
Same Game Multi
Andrew Wiggins 15+ Points / Steph Curry Over 4.5 Assists / Reggie Bullock 2+ Threes = $3.20
Excluding the Game 5 blowout against the Grizzlies, it was a solid series by Andrew Wiggins recording 15+ points in five of the six games. He likely gets Luka Doncic on him in Game 1, and entering this averaging 16.5 points against the Mavericks across the regular season he should be good for another game of 15+ points.
The Mavericks have done a good job defending Steph during the regular season, averaging just 20 points per game at 38.8% shooting from the field – but he does average 7.8 assists against Dallas recording 5+ in all four regular season games.
Reggie Bullock just lets it fly for Dallas as a ‘3 and D’ role player, and against the Warriors this season he averages 7.3 3PA per game – just behind Steph and Luka. Averaging 2.7 made triples per game this post-season who shouldn’t have any trouble landing a couple if he once again gets 8 looks at it.
