The Dallas Mavericks (19-11) travel to face off against the Phoenix Suns (15-14) on Friday, December 27th. This game will be played at Footprint Center in Phoenix and televised on AZFa. The Suns are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Mavericks are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Mavericks. Tip-off is set for 9:00 ET.

Mavericks vs Suns

The Mavericks Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

The Mavericks fell to 19-11 on the season after a 105-99 home loss to the Timberwolves on Wednesday. Dallas, favored by 5 points, not only lost the game but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game came in at 204, well under the 222.5-point line.

Dallas struggled early, getting outscored 31-16 in the 2nd quarter. Minnesota extended their lead to 90-68 by the end of the 3rd quarter. The Mavericks made a push in the 4th, going on a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to 81-70, and held the Timberwolves to just 15 points in the final period, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.

The Suns Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

The Suns moved above .500 for the season with a 110-100 win over the Nuggets on Wednesday, bringing their record to 15-14. Phoenix was +2.5 point underdogs at home but covered the spread with the victory.

After a high-scoring 1st quarter (38-34), the game slowed down, with the teams combining for 210 points, well below the 231.5-point total. The Suns took control by winning the 3rd quarter 27-22 and sealed the win by outscoring Denver 25-22 in the 4th.

Mavericks Offense Breakdown

In their 99-point outing against the Timberwolves, the Mavericks shot 41.4% from the field, with 16 made threes at a 37.2% clip. Kyrie Irving led the way, hitting 5 threes and finishing with 39 points, including 15 in the 4th quarter.

Luka Doncic added 14 points, 11 of which came in the opening quarter, while Klay Thompson contributed 12 points, 6 of which were scored in the final period.

Suns Offense Breakdown

Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal each scored 27 points in the Suns’ win over the Nuggets, with Beal hitting 3 threes at 42.9% and Durant shooting just 34.6% from the field. Tyus Jones added 17 points, connecting on 3 threes at 60% and shooting 77.8% overall.

The Suns made 11 threes, shooting 30.6% from deep and 46.6% overall. Durant scored 10 points in the 1st quarter, while Beal added 8 in the 4th.

Mavericks Team Defense

Despite a strong defensive effort in the 4th quarter, where they allowed just 15 points, the Mavericks couldn’t overcome their earlier struggles, giving up 105 points in a loss to the Timberwolves. Dallas allowed 31 points in the 2nd quarter and 33 in the 3rd, contributing to the defeat.

The Mavericks sent Minnesota to the line just 13 times, where they hit 11 free throws. Dallas also gave up 14 threes on 43% shooting. The Mavericks allowed 8 offensive rebounds while recording 6 steals and 8 blocks.

Suns Team Defense

Defensively, the Mavericks gave up 105 points to the Timberwolves, including 31 in the 2nd quarter and 33 in the 3rd. However, they tightened up in the 4th, allowing just 15 points. Overall, Minnesota shot 46% from the field.

From beyond the arc, the Timberwolves hit 14 threes at a 43% clip. Dallas sent Minnesota to the line 13 times, where they made 11 free throws. The Mavericks allowed 8 offensive rebounds while recording 6 steals and 8 blocks.

Mavericks vs Suns Trends

• Through their last three road contests, the Mavericks offense has averaged 124 points per game while allowing an average of 123. Dallas posted an overall record of 2-1 while going 1-2 ATS.
• In their last three games at home, the Suns have a straight up record of 1-2 while going 1-2 vs. the spread. The team averaged 111 points per game in this stretch.
• Spanning across their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Mavericks have gone 6-3-1 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 6-4.
• Spanning across their last five games as the betting favorite, the Suns have gone 1-4 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 2-3.

Mavericks vs Suns Prediction

The Mavericks come in as the underdog at +2, making them our top choice on the point spread. We not only expect them to cover the spread but also believe they have a strong chance of winning the game outright, especially if you’re aiming for a higher moneyline payout.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 225.5 and our model has the Mavericks and Suns finishing with a combined 209 points. Our pick is to take the under.

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All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

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* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.