Bettors are expecting a big-time response from the Phoenix Suns in their series with the Dallas Mavericks.
The Suns jumped out to a 2-0 series edge with back-to-back home wins, but Luka Doncic and the Mavericks fought back and evened the series at 2-2 over the weekend.
With Game 5 back in Phoenix, the betting action at BetMGM has been lopsided. The Suns are 6.5-point favorites and, as of Tuesday morning, a whopping 91% of the bets and 95% of the money is on Phoenix to cover the spread.
The spread opened at 5.5 but has since ticked up a point to Suns -6.5. The home team has won and covered the spread in all four of the games in this series thus far. The Suns were favored by six points in both Game 1 and Game 2. They won Game 1, 121-114, before a 129-109 blowout in Game 2.
Back in Dallas, though, the Mavericks showed the resolve to fight back. Chris Paul, the Suns’ veteran point guard, really struggled. He had an uncharacteristic seven turnovers in Game 3 and then fouled out and scored only five points in just 23 minutes in Game 4.
Clearly, bettors are expecting much more from Paul and the Suns this time around. Bettors are also likely expecting the Mavericks to come back down to earth a bit with their outside shooting. Dallas went 20-of-44 from deep in Game 4, including a remarkable 8-of-12 effort from Dorian Finney-Smith.
With the total, the betting is significantly more split. The total opened at 213.5 and has since moved up a point to 214.5.
According to BetMGM, 59% of the bets are on the over but 52% of the money is on the under.
What about the Heat vs. 76ers?
Game 5 between the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers is also set for Tuesday night.
Like in the Phoenix-Dallas series, the home team has won and covered the spread in all four games. The difference in this series is the return of Joel Embiid for Philadelphia.
The 76ers really struggled without the MVP finalist in Games 1 and 2 in Miami, losing both by double digits. Embiid, who suffered a fractured orbital bone in the first round vs. the Toronto Raptors, returned to the floor for Game 3 and made an immediate impact to help Philly tie the series.
Without Embiid available, Miami was favored by 7.5 points in the first two games of the series. For Game 5, Miami is just a 2.5-point favorite at BetMGM.
That point spread opened at Heat -3.5 but moved down a point on Tuesday morning after hobbled point guard Kyle Lowry was ruled out.
According to BetMGM, 51% of the bets on the point spread have come in on Miami, but 53% of the money is on the Sixers. Additionally, 73% of the bets and 51% of the money is on the over 209.5.