There are four games on the NBA betting board Tuesday night, headlined by a clash between two of the league's best teams with the Phoenix Suns hosting the Golden State Warriors. Both championship contenders are 2-1 this season and are fresh off wins on Sunday.
Oddsmakers are expecting a close clash tonight, with Phoenix installed as a 1.5-point home NBA odds favorite with the Over/Under at 225.5.
Here are my best free Warriors vs. Suns NBA picks and predictions for October 25.
Warriors vs Suns best odds
Warriors vs Suns picks and predictions
It might be tempting to back the reigning champs (and one of the current NBA championship odds favorites) with the points but there are a few reasons I like the home side here.
The Warriors led the NBA in defensive rating last season but have seen massive regression in that area, allowing a league-best 59.5% shooting inside the arc. They've also been getting killed on the glass and are 24th in the league in turnovers per offensive play.
That sort of sloppy play might be able to get the job done against teams like the Kings, but it won't against the Suns on their home floor.
Keep in mind that this is the Dubs' first road game of the season, and that they're just 8-17 ATS in their last 25 away contests against teams with a winning home record.
The Suns have been the superior defensive team this season and I like them to win and cover the small spread in this spot
My best bet: Suns -1.5 (-110 at bet365)
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Warriors vs Suns spread analysis
Both of these teams were elite last season and are expected to contend for the title again, with the Warriors (+600) tied with the Celtics atop the futures odds board, while the Suns are sixth at +1,000.
The Suns had the best record in the NBA last season, going 64-18 but were upset by the Mavs in the second round of the playoffs.
The Dubs finished the regular season with a 53-29 mark, but with a healthy Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, they rolled to a 16-6 SU mark (13-9 ATS) in the playoffs and won their fourth championship of the Steve Kerr era.
They opened their defense of the title with an easy win against the Lakers last week before losing to the Nuggets on Friday. GSW bounced back with a 130-125 win against the Kings on Sunday but failed to cover the spread as 10-point home faves.
That game didn't feel quite as close as the final scoreline suggested, with the Warriors entering the fourth quarter up 19 before allowing Sacramento to close the gap to four points.
Keeping Stephen Curry, Green, and Andrew Wiggins glued to the bench for the first seven minutes of the quarter didn't help, but scoring just 41 points in the second half after dropping an incredible 89 in the first shows just how streaky they can be.
The Suns also began this season with a victory, edging the Mavs 107-105, before losing in overtime against the Blazers on Friday. They rebounded with a dominant 112-95 win against the Clippers on the road.
Phoenix was the only team in the NBA to finish in the Top-5 in both offensive and defensive rating last season. They are currently fourth in defensive rating this year despite Jae Crowder sitting out while awaiting a trade.
While they're just 19th in offensive rating, two of their three games were against the Mavs and Clippers — two of the best defensive teams around.
Warriors vs Suns Over/Under analysis
The Warriors have had a tough time defending this season and gave up a whopping 128 points to the Nuggets on Friday before allowing the Kings to drop 125 on Sunday.
The Kings couldn't shoot from deep but went a sizzling 36-57 from two-point range (63.2%) while the Nuggets shot 53% from the floor and 44% from beyond the arc.
The Warriors have been filling up the hoop but they've been very reliant on Curry and Andrew Wiggins since Jordan Poole and Thompson have struggled with their shot.
Nonetheless, they've been playing at the fastest pace in the NBA and are leading the league with 125.3 points per game.
The Suns are playing at the fourth-slowest pace in the league. That has led to Phoenix averaging a modest 110 ppg despite Devin Booker putting up 32 ppg.
Warriors vs Suns betting trend to know
The Under is 13-3 in the last 16 meetings between these Western Conference foes. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Suns.
Warriors vs Suns game info
| Location: | Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ |
| Date: | Tuesday, October 25, 2022 |
| Tip-off: | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | TNT |
