The Dallas Mavericks (40-28) meet the Phoenix Suns (27-39) Sunday for a 9 p.m. ET tip-off at Visa Athletic Center in Reunion, Fla. We analyze the Mavericks-Suns NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
Mavericks vs. Suns: Key Injuries
Mavericks
- SG Courtney Lee (calf) out
- PF Dwight Powell (Achilles) out
Suns
- SF Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee) out
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Mavericks vs. Suns: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 11:45 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Suns 124, Mavericks 115
Moneyline (ML)
The Mavericks (-238) blew a double-digit second-half lead in their 153-149 overtime loss to the Houston Rockets Friday.
C Kristaps Porzingis and PG Luka Doncic balled with Porzingis putting up 39 points and 16 rebounds, while Doncic had a 28-point triple-double. Rockets Gs James Harden and Russell Westbrook thrashed them on the defensive end. They combined for 80 points, 20 rebounds and 16 assists.
In their first game, the SUNS (+195) whooped an injury-riddled Washington Wizards team, 125-112. Phoenix also had nice showings from their center-guard combo in their win. C Deandre Ayton scored 24 points and added 12 boards, and SG Devin Booker had a game-high 27 points.
This ain’t NBA Jam but the Suns’ center-guard combo should keep up with the Mavericks’ top duo. Ayton and Booker outscored Porzingis and Doncic, 62-30, in the second Mavericks-Suns game this season (a 133-104 Phoenix win). The Suns didn’t have Ayton in their first game against Dallas this year.
My favorite thing about this matchup for the Suns is how well and often they shoot from the charity stripe. Also, Dallas got into foul trouble in their first game of the restart against the Rockets. They sent Houston to the line 39 times Friday. Doncic fouled out in overtime and Porzingis finished with five fouls.
We LIKE SUNS (+195) to pull off the upset. New to sports betting? A $100 bet on the Suns (+195) earns a $195 profit if Phoenix wins outright.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Much of the rationale for my against the spread handicap is above in the moneyline handicap. The Mavericks -6 (-110) are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 meetings with the Suns.
Since we like Phoenix on the moneyline, we LOVE SUNS +6 (-110). Bet double your money on the ATS line as the moneyline for insurance. New to sports betting? A $220 bet on the Suns +6 (-110) earns a $200 profit if the Suns win or lose by five or fewer points.
Over/Under (O/U)
The 235.5-point total (Over: -110, Under: -110) in Mavericks-Suns is the second-highest of Sunday’s NBA slate. It’s that high because the Over is 5-2 in their last seven meetings, including the last three games consecutively, and Dallas has the third-highest percentage of Overs this season.
Dallas is the top-ranked team in offensive efficiency and Phoenix has the 19th-ranked defensive rating in the NBA. I am backing the Phoenix side because I think they’ll score a bunch on Dallas.
OVER 235.5 (-110) is the play on the total.
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