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Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks Predictions, Picks, Odds

Michael Crosson
Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read

Nationally televised NBA coverage will resume on Thursday night with a heavyweight Western Conference bout between the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks. Coverage begins from American Airlines Center at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT.

SCORE PREDICTION

Suns 116, Mavericks 105

BEST BETS

Suns -3.5 (-110) at WynnBet

PHOENIX SUNS VS. DALLAS MAVERICKS PREDICTIONS

After finishing second in the West with a record of 51-21 SU last year, Phoenix kept that same train moving forward with an excellent start to this season, as the Suns opened with an impressive 26-5 SU and 17-14 ATS run – with 14 of those victories coming by 10+ PTS.

The last few weeks have been relatively shaky for the Suns though, considering Phoenix is just 8-4 SU and 7-5 ATS since Christmas Day – despite getting tagged as favorites in all 12 of those contests.

On the other hand, Dallas also posted a strong start to the season, as the Mavericks kicked things off with a solid 9-4 SU run – although those wins didn’t come particularly easy, considering Dallas went just 5-8 ATS across that timeframe.

The Mavericks have been decimated by health issues since their opening stretch though, considering Dallas enters Thursday sitting at 16-15 SU and 18-13 ATS across the last 31 games – with nine of those SU losses coming in the absence of All-Pro PG Luka Doncic.

I’ll lay the points with Phoenix here, as the Suns have dominated since the New Year, currently sitting at 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS in their last eight games, while racking up 116 PPG offensively and allowing just 103 PPG defensively across that span – likely presenting a steep uphill battle for a Mavs’ squad that’s scored 108 PTS or less in six of their last nine matchups (105 PPG).

PHOENIX SUNS VS. DALLAS MAVERICKS BETTING ODDS

More Odds | Futures Odds

PHOENIX SUNS VS. DALLAS MAVERICKS BETTING RESOURCES

  • Matchup: Pacific vs. Southwest
  • Date: Thursday, January 20, 2022
  • Venue: American Airlines Arena
  • Location: Dallas, Texas
  • TV-Time: TNT - 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Injury Report

PHOENIX SUNS BETTING ANALYSIS

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

  • SU: 34-9
  • ATS: 24-19
  • O/U: 19-23-1

After battling for the conference crown all the way through the final calendar day of last year’s regular season (51-21 SU), it was surprising to see Phoenix struggle out of the gate to start the year, as the Suns lost three of their first four games to start this season.

Clearly, Phoenix just needed a few days to knock off the rust though, considering the Suns boast records of 33-6 SU and 23-16 ATS since their opening skid, now ranking 3rd in the league in both scoring and offensive efficiency (112.5 PPG, 1.095 OE) – and ranking 6th in points allowed and 2nd in defensive efficiency (104.6 PPG, 1.018 DE).

DALLAS MAVERICKS BETTING ANALYSIS

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

  • SU: 25-19
  • ATS: 23-21
  • O/U: 13-30-1

After a disappointing first-round exit from last year’s playoffs, Dallas stormed out to an encouraging start to the new season, as the Mavericks opened with wins in eight of their first 12 games – before suffering a continuous cycle of health issues, leading to their inevitable descend to fifth in the conference at 25-19 SU and 23-21 ATS.

Dallas is an incredibly dangerous squad when Luka Doncic is healthy, but clearly, the two-time All-Pro can’t single-handedly propel his team to elite offensive stature, considering Dallas ranks just 25th in scoring and 19th in offensive efficiency (105.5 PPG, 1.065 OE) – which typically isn’t good enough to compete with upper-tier squads like Phoenix.

The Suns are 8-0 SU in their last eight matchups against Dallas. (AP)

PHOENIX SUNS VS. DALLAS MAVERICKS HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Suns swept a three-game regular-season set against Dallas last year, with all three of those contests staying under the total at an average of 213.7 PPG. Phoenix is also 2-0 SU against Dallas this season, but the results of those matchups should be taken with a grain of salt, considering Doncic was sidelined for both affairs.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

  • PHX: Devin Booker - SG (24.6 PPG, 5.3 REB, 4.4 AST)
  • PHX: Chris Paul - PG (13.9 PPG, 4.3 REB, 10 AST)
  • DAL: Luka Doncic - PG (24.6 PPG, 8.6 REB, 8.8 AST)
  • DAL: Kristaps Porzingis - PF (20.3 PPG, 7.9 REB, 2.2 AST)

PHOENIX SUNS VS. DALLAS MAVERICKS BETTING CONCLUSION

After posting a third straight double-digit victory on Monday night, the Suns enter Thursday’s contest as moderate road favorites over the Mavericks at American Airlines Center – marking the 21st consecutive matchup Phoenix has been favored in.

I’ll lay the points with Phoenix here, as Dallas has played well recently, considering the Mavs’ sit 9-1 SU and 7-3 ATS in their last ten matchups – but my vote of confidence still belongs to a Suns squad that’s won six of their last eight games by 10+ PTS, while racking up 116 PPG across that span.

PHOENIX SUNS VS. DALLAS MAVERICKS BETTING TRENDS

  • The Mavericks are 0-8 SU in their last eight matchups against Phoenix.
  • The total has gone UNDER in five of the last seven matchup between Dallas and Phoenix.
  • The Suns are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games
  • The total has gone UNDER in four of the last six Suns' games.

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Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson
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