Posted on 5/18/2007 2:32:04 PM

NBA Betting Trends - Phoenix Suns vs. San Antonio Spurs Game 6

By Robby Maddux

Suspensions handed out by the NBA in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals proved costly to the Phoenix Suns, but tonight they look to get back on track and even the series at the AT&T Center with the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 as they return to full strength.

Wednesday, the Suns were without Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw who were suspended following an incident in Game 4. Without the two players, the Suns lost 88-85 and the Spurs grabbed a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Suns Steve Nash, Raja Bell and Shawn Marion each played more than 45 minutes Wednesday to make up for the suspended players. Kurt Thomas, who averaged 18 minutes during the regular season, played 36 minutes.

The overall numbers from Game 5 were ugly leading to a push. The teams attempted 149 shots between them, the fewest in the series. They hit only 40.3 percent of those shots when the next-worst game in the series was the 46.2 percent shooting they combined for in Game 3.

The Spurs' Robert Horry who was also suspended in Game 5 will sit out again this evening. His flagrant foul that sent Nash tumbling into the scorer's table on Monday resulted in a two-game suspension.

Stoudemire and Diaw will return with fresh legs and will be a huge lift for Phoenix who needs a win to send the series back to the desert for a Game 7. The Suns won Game 4 in San Antonio, while the Spurs have won twice on the road this series. The Suns were 28-13 on the road during the regular season, while the Spurs lost just ten at home.

The Spurs enter Game 6 as the home favorites, as they are 5-1-1 ATS (against the spread) in their last seven games as a favorite. Meanwhile, the Suns are 7-3 ATS in their last ten games as a road underdog.

Betting Trends:

- Suns are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.

- Suns are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games.

- Suns are 13-6-1 ATS in their last 20 vs. NBA Southwest.

- Suns are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.

- Suns are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as a road underdog.

- Spurs are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 playoff games as a favorite.

- Spurs are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.

- Spurs are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 vs. Western Conference.

- Spurs are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall.

- Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.

Note: The winner of the series will meet the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference finals. The Jazz are in the conference finals after beating the Golden State Warriors in five games.

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