Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns Dec 25 NBA Game: Analysis & Betting Odds

Dallas Mavericks (17-12 SU, 15-14 ATS) vs. Phoenix Suns (14-14 SU, 10-18 ATS)

When: Monday, December 25th, 10:30 PM (ET)

Where: Footprint Center, AZ, Phoenix

TV: ESPN

Point Spread: Dal +4.5/Pho -4.5

Total: 236

Money Line: Dallas Mavericks +151/-184

Notable Injuries

Mavericks

• Kyrie Irving (Out) Foot
• Maxi Kleber (Out) Toe
• Josh Green (Out) Elbow
• Dereck Lively II (Questionable) Ankle

Suns

• Bradley Beal (Out) Ankle
• Eric Gordon (Probable) Hip
• Jusuf Nurkic (Out) Personal
• Damion Lee (Out) Knee
• Josh Okogie (Probable) Hip
• Yuta Watanabe (Probable) Finger

Recent Form

Coming into today’s matchup vs. the Suns, the Mavericks are 17-12 and are looking to stay above .500. In Western Conference games, the Mavericks are 12-10 and have gone 5-2 in non-conference games.

Coming into today’s game, the Suns have gone 14-14 overall and are 1-2 in their last three games. So far this season, the Suns are 7-6 on the road compared to 7-8 at home.

The Historicals

In terms of betting, Dallas has an ATS record of 4-1 in the previous five matchups vs Phoenix. This mark has come on an average scoring margin of +10 points per game in favor of the Mavericks. In these contests, they averaged a combined 222 points per game, leading to an over-under mark of 3-2.

Analysis

The Mavericks offense is coming off a game in which they scored 144 points vs. the Spurs. Overall their field goal percentage was 52% while connecting on 23 threes. The top scorer for the Mavericks was Luka Doncic with 39 points, while Tim Hardaway Jr. also added 23 to the scoreboard.

Coming into the game, the Mavericks’ defense is giving up an average of 117.9 points per game. So far, they have given up more points than the NBA league average in 65.5% of their games.

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.

The Suns’ offense recently wrapped up a game with a total of 105 points against the Kings. In that game, they made 5/25 three-point attempts and achieved a field goal percentage of 44.3%. Leading the Suns in scoring vs. the Kings was Kevin Durant with his 28 points. Devin Booker also added 24 points for the Suns.

At this time, the Suns’ defense is positioned 15 in the NBA, permitting 114.0 points per game.

Phoenix struggled on the boards in their last game vs. the Kings, giving up 15. For the game, Sacramento scored 120 points in the game.

Betting Trends

• Dallas has played well in their previous 5 road games, going 3-2 straight up. In this stretch, they averaged 115 points per game while allowing 119. The team also performed well vs the spread at 3-2.
• Across their ten previous home games, Phoenix has an ATS mark of 3-7. Their straight-up record in these matchups was 6-4 while averaging 115 points per game.
• Looking back on the team’s last ten games as the underdog, the Mavericks have a straight-up record of 2-8. Their record vs. the spread in these games was 2-8.
• The last three games that Phoenix was favored, they have an ATS mark of 0-3 while going 1-2 straight up.

Joes Pick To Cover The Spread

Capping off the Christmas Day slate of games, the Mavs take on the Suns as 4.5-point underdogs. Even without Kyrie Irving, I see the Mavericks as not only a candidate to cover but pull out the win. The Suns have dropped two straight and four of their last five games. I like Dallas at +4.5.