NBA Playoffs 2022: 76ers vs. Heat, Mavericks vs. Suns Game 6 Odds, Predictions

A pair of teams will try to stave off elimination from the 2022 NBA playoffs Thursday night. The Philadelphia 76ers host Game 6 against the Miami Heat while trailing 3-2 in their second-round series. The Dallas Mavericks are down 3-2 against the Phoenix Suns, hoping to force a deciding Game 7.

The betting odds suggest that at least one playoff series will go the distance. The 76ers are favored by 2.5 points at FanDuel Sportsbook over the Heat. The Mavericks are home underdogs in Game 6, though the betting line is only two points.

The home team has been victorious in every game in the two series.

The 76ers came back from a 2-0 series deficit when Joel Embiid made his return from a broken orbital bone. Embiid was limited to just 17 points and five rebounds in a 120-85 drubbing in Game 5.

Embiid has been limited against Miami’s defense. After winning the scoring title with 30.6 points per game in the regular season, the center is averaging just 19.7 points in the second round. A resurgent James Harden led the way in Game 4, but the 76ers’ guard came back to earth in Game 5 with 14 points, four assists and four turnovers.

Without a dominant Embiid, Philadelphia is unlikely to push the series back to Miami. Jimmy Butler has been the best player in the series, averaging 26.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

The same goes for Dallas’ hopes of extending the series, though a superstar performance from its best player might not be enough. Despite Luka Doncic’s 28 points and 11 rebounds, the Mavericks lost Game 5 handily 110-80. Dallas shot 8-32 from three-point range, and Mavericks other than Doncic went 17-48 from the field.

The Mavericks beat the Suns twice in Dallas with tremendous outside shooting from their role players. The likes of Reggie Bullock, Dorian Finney-Smith and Maxi Kleber might be more productive at home Thursday.

Chris Paul, however, is due for a big game. Phoenix’s point guard has been held to just 24 total points over the last three games.

Paul scored 47 points on 29 field-goal attempts in the first two games of the series. The point guard clinched Phoenix’s first-round series with a perfect 14-14 shooting night in Game 6 against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Look for both No. 1 seeds to close out the series and clinch a spot in the conference finals Thursday.

Game 6 Predictions: Heat over 76ers 100-94, Suns over Mavericks 110-103