Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Nov. 17, 2021

Michael Crosson
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

Nationally televised NBA coverage will conclude on Wednesday night with a heavyweight Western Conference bout between the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns. Coverage begins at 10:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Score Prediction

Suns 114, Mavericks 103

Best Bets

Phoenix -7.5

Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns Predictions

After last year’s impressive title run, Phoenix stumbled out to somewhat disappointing start to the season, as the Suns opened with losses in three of their first four games – with Devin Booker and company’s only victory across that window coming against a relatively unimpressive Lakers squad (W, 115-105).

The Suns quickly turned things around following their lackluster 1-3 start though, considering Phoenix heads into Wednesday’s contest riding a nine-game winning streak – with more than half of those victories coming by commanding double-digit margins.

On the other hand, the Mavericks also posted a slightly underwhelming start the new season, considering Dallas kicked off its campaign 3-2 SU and 1-4 ATS – with the Mavs’ only win and cover across that stretch coming in a low-scoring bout against the Raptors (W, 103-95).

The Mavericks have played relatively solid basketball since their streaky start though, considering Dallas enters Wednesday’s event following victories in six of the last eight games – with the Mavs’ only losses across that timeframe coming in tough matchups against the Heat and Bulls.

I’ll lay the points with the Suns here, as Phoenix comfortably swept a three-game regular-season set against a full-strength Mavericks squad last year – and with Luka Doncic unavailable for Wednesday’s matchup, Dallas shouldn’t serve as much of a threat to the red-hot Suns in the Valley.

Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns Betting Odds

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Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns Betting Resources

• Matchup: Southwest vs. Pacific
• Date: Wednesday, November 17, 2021
• Venue: Footprint Center
• Location: Phoenix, Arizona
• TV-Time: ESPN - 10:00 p.m. ET

• Injury Report

Dallas Mavericks Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 9-4
• ATS: 5-8
• O/U: 4-8-1

After sputtering out to a surprisingly lackluster 4-3 start, Dallas finally appeared to be settling into a rhythm in early November – highlighted by the Mavs’ entering Wednesday’s contest following wins in five-of-six games, with their only loss across that window coming to the Bulls in Chicago (L, 117-107).

The Mavs’ stumbled across a slight roadblock on Monday night though, as Doncic suffered a minor ankle injury that is expected to sideline Dallas’ superstar for at least the rest of the week.

Doncic certainly isn’t just a one-man-show for the Mavs’ – but he does lead the league in offensive usage-percentage at 35.4%, and Dallas will probably struggle in its first matchup of the year without him.

Phoenix Suns Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 10-3
• ATS: 8-5
• O/U: 4-9

After battling through the final calendar day for last year’s regular-season Western Conference crown, it was somewhat surprising to see the Suns struggle out of the gate to start things off, as Phoenix posted head-scratching losses against the Nuggets, Blazers, and Kings across the first week of the new season. Phoenix just needed a few games to knock the rust off though, considering the Suns enter Wednesday’s contest riding a nine-game winning streak – while boasting an impressive 7-2 ATS mark across that stretch.

Kristaps Porzingis has scored 22 points or more in nine of his last 13 games when Luka is out. (AP)

Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns Head-to-Head

The Suns swept a three-game regular-season set against the Mavericks last season, with the first of those matchups taking place in Dallas and staying well under the total set for Wednesday’s affair (208 PTS) – while the other two took place in Phoenix and averaged out to a moderately higher mark (216.5 PPG).

Key Players to Watch

• DAL: Kristaps Porzingis - C (19.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg)
• DAL: Tim Hardaway, Jr. - SF (14.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
• PHO: Devin Booker - SG (22.9 ppg, 6 rpg, 5.5 apg)
• PHO: Chris Paul - PG (14.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 10.2 apg)

Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns Betting Conclusion

After extending their winning streak to nine games with a win over Minnesota on Monday night, the Suns will enter Wednesday’s contest as generous home favorites over the visiting Mavericks – marking Dallas’ steepest underdog tag of the year thus far.

I’ll lay the points with Phoenix here, as the Suns have won six of their last nine games by nine points or more – and I’m expecting them to demonstrate some authority over a short-handed Mavs’ squad on Wednesday night.

Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns Betting Trends

• Phoenix has gone UNDER in four of its last five games.
• Phoenix has covered the spread in six straight games when facing Dallas.
• Phoenix has won nine straight games.

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