Mavericks vs Suns Betting Preview: Game 1

Can Mavericks Sustain 3-Point Offense vs Suns?

The Dallas Mavericks are past the first round for the first time since they won the NBA championship over 11 years ago. Dallas rode effective 3-point shooting to oust the Utah Jazz in six games despite missing superstar Luka Doncic for the first three. Players like Jalen Brunson, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Reggie Bullock stepped up.

Starting in Game 2, Dallas hit Utah with an average of nearly 17 threes a game at 38.4 percent shooting. They won four games and lost the one by a single point. Dallas is 20-3 when it hits 16 or more threes in a game and is unbeaten (10-0) when it hits at least 18.

Dallas will need to find ways to maintain the good looks it kept getting against Utah versus a Suns team that allowed the fourth-lowest 3-point efficiency in the league. If that happens, Dallas will give the top-seeded Suns a run for their money and make this Mavericks vs Suns betting preview more interesting.

Game Information

• Team records: Dallas Mavericks 56-32 (fourth seed in West); Phoenix Suns (68-20, first seed in West).
• Date: Monday, 10 p.m. ET
• Television/live stream: TNT
• Location: Footprint Center, Phoenix

Battle-Tested Suns Await Another Challenge

The Phoenix Suns, at times, did not look like 9-1 favorites when it faced the New Orleans Pelicans in the last round. Thanks partially to leader scorer Devin Booker’s injury, Phoenix needed six games to take out the Pelicans, and two of their victories come by six points or fewer. Still, having a bit of a tough time was only good for the Suns as it tested their resolve.

Phoenix has not slowed down since losing the last four games in the NBA Finals against Milwaukee. With a 68-20 record, the Suns have been in a class of their own this eason. It isn’t just Booker and Chris Paul, but supporting players like Mikal Bridges, Deandre Ayton and Cameron Johnson have taken their games to a new level.

The Phoenix Suns’ betting odds remain the shortest to win the NBA title thanks to a ridiculous efficiency. This team finished in the top four in the NBA in offensive rating, effective field goal rate and turnover percentage. Additionally, the team locks it down on defense, keeping opponents at just 44.5 percent from the field. Teams will have a small margin of error going against the Suns.

Mavericks Need Dinwiddie

Of the X-factors in this series, the Mavericks’ Spencer Dinwiddie is the most obvious one. The guard was the centerpiece of the Kristaps Porzingis trade and so far Dinwiddie has not lived up to expectations. The former Brooklyn Net was a liability on offense against Utah, shooting just 36.1 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from three.

Even in his return to the bench, Dinwiddie at times looked like the worst player on the team. If he can find a way to recapture his shooting stroke, it will help the Dallas Mavericks’ betting odds by quite a bit. The team went 17-2 in the regular season when he shot at least 40 percent from the field, but only 1-3 when he shot under that.

It will be hard to see both Finney-Smith and Bullock shooting over 39 percent from long range in this series and Brunson will not be averaging 27.8 points. If the trio struggles with Phoenix’s uncanny ability to keep running out shooters, Dinwiddie will need to rise to the challenge. If he can’t, it may be a short series for Dallas.

Mavericks vs Suns Betting Preview

The Phoenix Suns have beaten the Dallas Mavericks in nine straight games. Dallas’ last win came before the pandemic, i November 2019. Phoenix also went 7-2 against the spread (ATS) against Dallas in this span.

The total went under in six of these nine meetings. Dallas never scored more than 108 points in eight of these nine games and also shot under 45 percent in a similar span.

Paul has averaged a 123 offensive rating in six games against the Mavericks as a member of the Suns. Phoenix is unbeaten against Dallas with Paul on the roster. This season, This season, he averaged 15.0 points, 13.0 assists and 4.7 rebounds vs the Mavericks. Phoenix is 31-3 when he has a double-double in points and assists.

Dallas is 14-10 ATS when playing as a road underdog this season. They also have a 68.4 percent cover rate (39-18-1) in conference games, which is the best mark in the NBA.