The Dallas Mavericks (17-12) travel to face off against the Phoenix Suns (14-14) on Monday, December 25th. This game will be played at Footprint Center. The Mavericks are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Suns are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Spurs. Tip-off is set for 10:30 ET.
Mavericks vs Suns
The Mavericks Are Coming Off A Win
The Mavericks beat the Spurs in their most recent game, ending with a score of 144-119. Mavericks’ victory in this game wasn’t just a straight-up win; they also covered the spread as -8-point favorites. Before the game, the over/under line was 243 points, and both teams ended up surpassing that mark.
Coming into today’s matchup vs. the Suns, the Mavericks are looking to build on their above .500 record of 17-12. Currently, they are 6th in the Western Conference and are leading the Southwest division.
Dallas is currently performing above .500 against the spread with an ATS record of 15-14. The Mavericks have suffered four consecutive ATS losses when playing as underdogs, and they are 13-6 against the spread when they are the favorites.
The Suns Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
In their most recent game, the Suns tell to the Kings by a score of 120-105. Alongside their straight-up loss, the Suns couldn’t cover as +4 point underdogs. As for the over/under, the combined score of 225 points didn’t reach the over/under line of 244.5.
When it comes to facing the Mavericks, the Suns have a record of 14-14 and are looking to snap their two game losing streak. In road games, the Suns are 7-6 this season while going 7-8 at home.
Phoenix currently has an ATS record below .500, sitting at 10-18 at this point. As the favorite this season, Phoenix is 6-13 vs. the spread while going 4-5 as the underdog.
Mavericks Offense Breakdown
The Dallas offense will take the floor in today’s game with the league’s 7th ranked offense at 119 points per game. The Mavericks come into the game as one of the league’s better 3-point shooting teams, connecting at a rate of 15.7 made 3’s per game. A key to the teams offensive success is their ability to avoid turning the ball over. So far, Dallas is ranked 2nd in fewest turnovers per game.
Suns Offense Breakdown
This season, the Phoenix offense is ranked 16th in the NBA in scoring at 114.5 points per game. When looking at the team’s pace of play, the Suns are currently below the league average in possessions per game, averaging just 97.8 per contest. A key aspect of the team’s offensive struggles is the fact that they not only play at a slow pace, but they struggle to score inside. Heading into today’s game, Phoenix is just 17th in shots made inside the arc.
Mavericks Team Defense
Looking at the Mavericks defense, they will be looking for a better performance considering they are currently conceding 117.9 points per game (22).
In terms of two point field goal attempts, the Mavericks defense has allowed a shooting percentage of 56.1% while allowing 36.5% from downtown.
Suns Team Defense
So far, the Suns’ defense is ranked 15 in the league at 114.0 points per contest.
When it comes to defending inside the arc, the Suns squad is permitting opposing teams to shoot at a clip of 53.0% inside the arc, and they’re also giving up 36.0% from downtown.
Key Players For The Mavericks And Suns
Our game forecasts for today suggest that Luka Doncic is set to be the main scorer for the Mavericks, recording 23 points and shooting 8/15 from the field. This season, he is averaging 32.9 points per game along with 8.6 boards.
As for Phoenix, Kevin Durant is projected to be the primary scorer for the Suns. Our forecast has him finishing the game with 21, and adding 4 rebounds. This season, he is shooting at a field goal percentage of 52.1%, and his scoring average is 30.9 points per game.
Mavericks vs Suns Trends
- Through their last three road contests, the Mavericks offense has averaged 110 points per game while allowing an average of 124. Dallas posted an overall record of 1-2 while going 1-2 ATS.
- In their last three games at home, the Suns have a straight up record of 0-3 while going 0-3 vs the spread. The team’s offense averaged 104 points per game in these contests.
- As the betting underdog, the Mavericks have an ATS mark of just 0-3 in their last three games. Dallas posted a straight up mark of 0-3 in these matchups.
- Spanning across their last three games as the betting favorite, the Suns have gone 0-3 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 1-2.
Mavericks vs Suns Prediction
Coming in as the underdogs at +4.5, we have the Mavericks as the way to go on the point spread. Not only do we have them covering, but our projections show they have a good one of winning this one straight-up, if you’re looking for a higher payout on the moneyline.
As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 236, and our model projects the Mavericks and Suns to reach a combined total of 228 points. Our bet is on taking the under.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:December 25, 2023 Mavericks, Suns, Uncategorized