SUNDAY’S GAMES
BUCKS AT CELTICS
TV: ABC, 3:30p.m.
NEED TO KNOW: These teams have alternated victories, with the Bucks winning the odd-numbered games and the Celtics taking the even-numbered ones. Road teams are 4-2and have won the last three games. Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo have been spectacular. Antetokounmpo is averaging 35.3points, 13.8 rebounds and 6.8assists in this series, while Tatum is averaging 28.3points, 6.3rebounds and 5assists. Tatum had 46points and Antetokounmpo 44in the Celtics’ 108-95Game 6victory in Milwaukee, marking just the fifth time opponents have scored at least 44points in the same playoff game. Celtics are 24-9all-time in Game 7s, compared to 3-8for the Bucks.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Three-point comparison. In Boston’s three victories, Celtics have shot 41.5% from three and have outscored the Bucks 153-57from beyond the arc. In Celtics’ three losses, they have a much narrower 111102advantage from three and have made just 32.5% of their attempts.
INJURY WATCH: Bucks F Khris Middleton has missed nine straight playoff games with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Celtics F/C Robert Williams III has missed three straight with soreness in his surgically repaired left knee and is questionable for Game 7.
PRESSURE IS ON: Bucks G Grayson Allen: After delivering a 22-point outburst and a 27-point performance in back-to-back games when the Bucks beat Chicago in the first round, Allen hasn’t been nearly as effective in this series despite moving into a starting role in Game 3. He has scored 23points over his last five games and has shot 2of 14from 3-point range during that stretch. Allen shot 1of 7overall and scored three points in Game 6.
MAVERICKS AT SUNS TV:
8 p.m., TNT
NEED TO KNOW: Home team has won the first six games; series now moves back to Phoenix Though the series has been close, individual games often have been blowouts: Three of the six have been decided by at least 20 points. Mavs star Luka Doncic has averaged more than 32points per game in series despite shooting just 29.6% from 3-point range. Doncic has been productive, but his supporting cast has struggled at Phoenix. Suns are shooting nearly 50% for series but have struggled with turnovers. Devin Booker leads Suns with 25.5 points per game.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Suns PG Chris Paul. Twelve-time All-Star is having a difficult series, averaging just 6.5assists, well below his regular-season average. Paul, 37, has had a handful of spectacular performances in postseason over the past two years and Suns might need another one.
INJURY WATCH: Doncic appears to have a left thigh injury but he has downplayed the severity. It bears watching in Game 7. Said Doncic: “I just felt like a little pop in the beginning and then when I was warming up it was kind of OK. Now it’s a little bit worse. But it’s nothing serious.”
PRESSURE IS ON: Suns. Phoenix is trying to make it back to the NBA Finals and had the league’s best regular-season record. Losing in the second round would be a major disappointment. Dallas doesn’t have nearly as great expectations.