Both the Mavericks and Suns are slumping. The Mavs enter this matchup with the fourth-worst offensive rating, while ranking a solid 12th in defensive rating. The Suns rank eighth in defensive rating, and the offense has set recently, ranking 21st in offensive rating over the last 10 games.
Much like Jalen Brunson against the Pacers, this is a matchup that carries a personal edge for Devin Booker. While that rivalry may have cooled slightly with Luka Dončić now in Los Angeles, Booker still seems to relish games against the Mavericks. Dallas leans heavily on Daniel Gafford in deep drop coverage, a defensive scheme that plays directly into Booker’s strengths. The mid-range jumper is Booker’s comfort zone, and drop coverage gives him exactly the space he needs to get to it. The Mavericks also push the pace offensively, but that often leads to defensive breakdowns in transition. They don’t always get back or stay connected, and Booker is one of the league’s best guards at finding open looks in transition offense. With this prop available at -102, I see clear value, as I price it much closer to -160.
The Mavericks are on a seven-game losing streak, but they match up well here with Phoenix. They are slightly better offensively and pretty even on the defensive end. The Suns haven't been scoring well of late, failing to exceed 103 points in three of their last four. This is too many points.
Total PicksDAL 235, PHO 163
Hoosier is #1 on picking games that Dallas are in with a record of (36-16-0) and +16850 units on the season.
whosat is #1 on picking games that Phoenix is in with a record of (30-17-1) and +11750 units on the season.
Leonoodle is #10 on picking games that Phoenix is in with a record of (20-13-0) and +7800 units on the season.
ThreeTops is #2 on picking games that Phoenix is in with a record of (21-13-0) and +10900 units on the season.
Geo Lazos is #4 on picking games that Phoenix is in with a record of (27-16-1) and +9300 units on the season.
glen2003 is #6 on picking games that Dallas are in with a record of (24-17-0) and +6400 units on the season.
reddog6008 is #7 on picking games that Phoenix is in with a record of (30-16-1) and +8350 units on the season.
fadepublic14 is #8 on picking games that Dallas are in with a record of (23-12-0) and +6050 units on the season.
BeeRAD is #8 on picking games that Phoenix is in with a record of (16-15-0) and +8300 units on the season.
ciarajo is #9 on picking games that Dallas are in with a record of (29-21-0) and +5900 units on the season.
The Phoenix Suns are the talk of the NBA following the trade deadline. With new ownership and sky-high ambitions, the Suns acquired Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster deal. After a disappointing playoff upset at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks last year and a slow start to the year, it looked like the sun might be finally setting on this iteration of Phoenix. That’s all changed now, with most sportsbooks having them as the presumptive favorite to get out of the West. Following the 2022-23 All-Star break, the Suns had +400 odds of winning the NBA Finals.
Durant should integrate seamlessly alongside Chris Paul and Devin Booker in a mid-range-focused offense, and Deandre Ayton will have a chance to shine as a third or fourth option when this elite guard and wing combo gets it going.
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NBA superstar Kevin Durant highlights the Suns roster along with Chris Paul and Devin Booker.