The Phoenix Suns are turning things around after struggling without Devin Booker, winning their last four games to move into the No. 7 spot in the Western Conference.
The Suns host the Dallas Mavericks and Luka Doncic on Thursday night, and a win would vault the Suns ahead of Dallas in the standings.
The Mavericks have been without Christian Wood due to a thumb injury, and it’s possible he could miss this game as well.
While Phoenix is still without Booker and Cameron Payne, Deadre Ayton is listed as probable for this game.
Dallas is struggling as of late, winning just three of its last 10 games, and it has also struggled on the road this season, going just 8-15 straight up.
How should we wager on this Western Conference matchup? Here’s a look at the latest odds:
Mavericks vs. Suns odds, spread and total
Mavericks vs. Suns prediction and pick
Dallas has really slipped on the defensive end of the floor, and that’s a problem if Wood ends up sitting out this game, as the team would be down its second leading scorer.
Mavs have fallen to 26th in defensive rating (115.1). The teams ranked below them have the four worst records in the NBA.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) January 25, 2023
Asked about specific areas that Dallas needs to improve defensively, Luka Doncic summed it up briefly: “Everything.”
Even though the Mavericks have Doncic, they are almost impossible to trust on the road, going just 3-7 as road dogs, losing those games by an average margin of 11 points.
Yet, they’re getting just 1.5 points against a Booker-less Suns squad?
That leads me to a wager on the Suns, who have been great at home, going 12-7 against the spread as home favorites despite the injuries they’ve dealt with.
Phoenix has played some close games in this four-game winning streak, but I think Chris Paul and company will be able to get whatever they want down low against a weak Dallas defense.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.