Regular season really counts with two Game 7s on slate
PHOENIX— The NBA’s long regular season can be tedious, but make no mistake, it matters.
Just ask the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns — two teams who have homecourt advantage in Game 7 of their respective secondround NBA playoff series Sunday thanks to superior regular-season records.
The Celtics play host to the Milwaukee Bucks a few hours before the Suns welcome the Dallas Mavericks in what could be a drama-filled day.
“It means everything,” Celtics forward Jayson Tatum said of getting Game 7 in Boston. “The best atmosphere in the NBA. Game 7s are the biggest and best games. Looking forward to it, truly.
“It’s basketball — biggest moments, biggest stage. What it boils down to is now go out there and just have fun.”
Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker echoed those sentiments.
“We worked all season to have home-court advantage and get the last game in our house,” Booker said. “It’s exciting. It’s Game 7. I’ve never been in a Game 7, so this will be fun.”
The Mavericks have a particularly difficult task in their game against the Suns. The home team has won each of the first six games of the series, and many of those games have been blowouts.
“Our fan base is great for us, their fan base is great for them,” Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson said. “Home-court advantage is a real thing. Respect to both fan bases making it difficult for the away team.”
It’s the second consecutive year the Mavericks have played a Game 7. Dallas lost to the Clippers in Los Angeles in last year’s contest after the visiting team won the first six games of the series.
The Celtics and Bucks have alternated victories throughout their series. By that pattern, it should be the Bucks’ turn to get the win. But there’s little doubt Boston’s home court will be loud and hostile on Sunday.
“For me, I’ve just got to go play,” Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo said. “I want my teammates to enjoy the moment.”
Bucks at Celtics
These teams have alternated victories throughout the series, with the Bucks winning the odd-numbered games and the Celtics taking the even-numbered ones. The road teams are 4-2 and have won each of the past three games. Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo have been spectacular. Antetokounmpo is averaging 35.3 points, 13.8 rebounds and 6.8 assists in this series, while Tatum is averaging 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5 assists. Tatum had 46 points and Antetokounmpo 44 in the Celtics’ 108-95 Game 6 victory in Milwaukee, marking just the fifth time opponents have scored at least 44 points in the same playoff game. The Celtics are 24-9 alltime in Game 7s, compared to 3-8 for the Bucks.
Keep an eye on the 3point comparison. In Boston’s three victories, the Celtics have shot 41.5% from 3-point range and have outscored the Bucks, 153-57, from beyond the arc. In the Celtics’ three losses, they have a much narrower 111-102 advantage from 3-point range and have made just 32.5% of their attempts.
Bucks forward Khris Middleton has missed nine consecutive playoff games with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Celtics forward-cent Robert Williams III has missed three games in a row with soreness in his surgically repaired left knee and is questionable for Game 7.
Mavericks at Suns
The home team has won each of the first six games in this series, which now moves back to Phoenix for the final game. Though the series has been close, the individual games often have been blowouts: Three of the six have been decided by at least 20 points. Mavericks star Luka Doncic has averaged more than 32 points per game in the series despite shooting just 29.6% from 3-point range. Doncic has been productive, but his supporting cast has struggled on the road against the Suns. Phoenix is shooting nearly 50% for the series but has struggled with turnovers. Devin Booker leads the Suns with 25.5points per game.
Keepan eye on Suns point guard Chris Paul. The 12timeAll-Star is having a difficult series, averaging just 6.5 assists, which is well below his regular-season average. The 37-year-old has had a handful of spectacular performances in the postseason over the past two years and the Suns might need another one on Sunday.