The Phoenix Suns welcome the Dallas Mavericks to Phoenix Arena for a 10:30 p.m. ET tip-off Wednesday. Below, we analyze the Mavericks-Suns NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Mavericks at Suns: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:55 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Mavericks -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Suns -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Mavericks +1.5 (-110) | Suns -1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 234.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Mavericks at Suns: Key Injuries
Mavericks
- C Kristaps Porzingis (knee) out
- PF Maxi Kleber (knee) probable
Suns
- PG Chris Paul (ankle) probable
- PF Frank Kaminsky (health and safety protocols) out
- SF Abdel Nader (concussion protocol) out
- PF Dario Saric (quadriceps) out
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Mavericks at Suns: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Suns 115, Mavericks 112
Money line (ML)
This has to be the most excited Phoenix has been about the Suns since the Mike D’Antoni and Steve Nash era.
The Suns acquiring PG Chris Paul this offseason was one of the biggest moves made and it’s an indication Phoenix is ready to make a playoff push. Let’s not forget how close they were last season after going a perfect 8-0 in the bubble with two of those wins coming against Dallas.
The Mavericks have even higher hopes and are being led by the odds on favorite to win the 2020-21 NBA MVP in PG Luka Doncic. Phoenix has its own up and coming superstar in SG Devin Booker, who lit up the Mavericks for an efficient 30 and 27 points in their two bubble meetings.
Where I’m focused in this Mavericks-Suns handicap is the matchup history between the two point guards. In their four head-to-head meetings, Luka is shooting below his average from the field and behind the arc against CP3 and the Mavericks are just 1-3 in those contests, according to LandOfBasketball.com.
While CP3 is known as the Point God for his uncanny ability to get anywhere on the floor against defenses, Paul has also been named to the NBA’s All-Defense team nine times and is a six-time NBA steals leader. His biggest focus in this game should be limiting (not stopping) the damage done by Luka.
Furthermore, the Oklahoma City Thunder had the best clutch rating in the NBA last season and it’s primarily because of CP3’s success in closing out victories. Candidly speaking, I worked for the Los Angeles Clippers the first season after they acquired Paul and I’ve witnessed with my own eyes this dude steal opponents’ souls at the end of games.
If BetMGM is projecting a close game, I have to ride it out with CP3 and BET SUNS (-115) for 1.5 units.
Against the spread (ATS)
PASS. I’ll pay the extra 5 cents on the dollar for an outright Suns win rather than fuss with the spread.
Over/Under (O/U)
I lean UNDER 234.5 (-110) since I blindly wrote down the score before peeping BetMGM‘s projected total. I’m higher on both teams’ offenses compared to the defenses but my feeling is this total is too high. CP3’s floor general style is more surgical than fast-paced.
Officially, I’ll PASS because I just prefer sides over totals.
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