What you need to know about Game 5
Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns
NBA Western Conference playoff semifinals, Game 5
When: Tuesday, 7 p.m., Footprint Center
TV/Radio: TNT/Phoenix's KMVP 98.7 FM
Storyline: Phoenix is in its second consecutive playoff series tied at 2-2. They've lost two straight games, a streak that multiple Suns players said during the regular season they do not want to exceed.
The Suns mostly trailed the Mavericks in Dallas halfway through the first quarters in Games 3 and 4, and Luka Doncic continues to be a problem for Phoenix, averaging a league-high 31.3 points in the playoffs with 9.9 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.4 steals. The questionable officiating of those games is less of a factor than top seed Phoenix's rotations to defend Dallas' perimeter shooting (series-high 20 three-pointers, including eight from Dorian Finney-Smith in Game 4).
In addition, Chris Paul has been in foul trouble in the past two games (he fouled out Sunday and finished with 5 points on 2-of-4 shooting), which partially stifled the league top seed's offense without their floor general.
If the Suns are going to win Game 5, their top trio Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton will need to play exactly like they did to dominate in the series opener. And for the Mavericks to take a 3-2 lead, they will need to continue playing like they have been at home to quiet the Footprint Center's rowdy crowd.
Key matchup: Mikal Bridges vs. Reggie Bullock
Dallas' starting small forward Bullock (11.3 points per game on 40.8%) has been shooting the 3 better than Bridges (39.7% to 20.8%) this series, and the 3point shooting was a problem for the Suns in Game 4. Bridges is the Suns best on-ball defender who gets caught helping on Doncic and other players as the Suns switch on Dallas' wings. But Bridges (10.5 on 49.2%) also is a catalyst on offense in transition and is shooting better overall than Bullock.
Hot topics
● Will Paul play better in Game 5?
● Can the Suns stop the Mavericks' other players (those not named Doncic) from scoring?
● Will the officiating be better in Game 5?
● Will the Suns crowd going to Rally The Valley for a Game 5 win?
● Will the Suns play better for their Coach of the Year Monty Williams in Game 5?
By the numbers: Key stats to know
● With two steals, Paul will pass Derek Fisher for 15th on NBA's all-time playoffs steals list
● Booker scored a game-high 35 points in Game 4 on Sunday, his 13th career 30-plus point playoff game (thirdmost in franchise history), as he’s scored in double figures in all 29 of his career postseason games
● Dallas' second unit has outscored the Suns bench in this series, 127-109.
● Phoenix committed their serieshigh 17 turnovers each in Games 3 and 4, and allowed the Mavericks' postseason first half-high 68 points in Sunday's Game 4
● Mavericks' Doncic has had a more balanced attack from his fellow starters and their bench players in Games 3 and 4. Dallas had four and five other players besides him score in double figures in Game 3 and 4, respectively, compared to just three others when he scored 45 and 35 in Games 1 and 2.
X-factor: JaVale McGee
If Deandre Ayton gets more touches and plays as physical as possible in Game 5, the Suns backup center needs to keep that same energy against Dallas on mismatches in the paint. The undersized Mavericks like to go with small ball schemes, and they won a lot of 50/50 balls in Game 5. McGee has been averaging 6.3 points on a team-high 71.7% this series, 4.5 rebounds in 12.3 minutes off the bench. He will need to dominate during his time on the floor, bringing more intensity as a rim protector better than his total 3 blocks against Dallas in the past four games.and continue as a solid alley-oop finisher to get the Suns crowd involved to help pull off the goahead win.
Injury report
Suns forward Torrey Craig (elbow) is probable for Game 5.