Two of the worst teams in the NBA will face off this week when the Phoenix Suns host the Dallas Mavericks in a Western Conference matchup. Usually the home team in a game like this would be the favorite, but it is possible the Suns will be without star guard Devin Booker, which complicates things even more.
Both squads are far out of the playoff picture and destined for the lottery. Dallas used to be one of the West’s most successful franchises but has fallen on hard times of late as Dirk Nowitzki has entered the twilight of his career and the Mavericks have been unable to find a star to replace him.
The Suns have loaded up on young assets but beyond Booker have yet to find a true game-changing talent, so they are wasting away in lottery land once again. Phoenix might be a slight favorite in this game but it is hard to predict just which way it will turn out.
Don't miss the hardwood action from U.S. Airways Center at 10:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 31, 2018. Catch every moment of the game live on ESPN.
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Odds Analysis
The Mavericks are 16-34 straight up and have covered in half of their 50 games. Dallas has covered in 13 of their 23 road games this season. The Mavericks are 21-16 against the spread as the underdog and 4-9 attempting to cover as the favorite.
The Suns are 17-34 straight up and 24-25-2 against the spread. They have done well covering on the road but are just 9-15-1 against the spread at home. Phoenix has only been favored four times this season, and with Booker’s injury it is unknown if the oddsmakers will give the Suns that designation in this matchup.
Injury Report
Booker went down hard in a game against the Rockets recently and didn’t play last time out against the Grizzlies with sore ribs and hip. The team is doing X-Rays on the injuries and the hope is that he isn’t shelved for a significant period of time.
However, Booker was reportedly in a great deal of pain after the Houston loss and he could very well miss this contest against Dallas. Booker is unquestionably the Suns’ best player, averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game even though he is still one of the youngest players on the team.
Keep a close eye on his availability for this game. While it doesn’t seem exceedingly likely Booker will be able to play, if his injuries are just bruises the Suns’ training staff will work hard to get him back onto the court as quickly as possible.
Key Stat
2.0. That’s the Mavericks’ negative point-differential, which is much better than the one employed by Phoenix even though the Suns are slightly ahead in the standings.
Dallas has shown the ability to stick around in games, although it has not resulted in a lot of victories. The luck has been bad but this Mavericks team is probably better than it has gotten credit for thus far.
The Mavericks are led by Harrison BArnes, who is averaging 18.4 points per game, while the youngster Dennis Smith, Jr. is looking like a steal as the ninth overall pick in the draft.
There is some room for optimism for the Mavericks as they may play better down the stretch, as they are a better team than the Suns despite what the standings suggest.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The location of this game gives this pause, as the Suns have the comfort of playing at home. However, if Booker is out the team won’t be able to find enough offense. Take the Mavericks to hit the road and come away with the victory.
If Dallas is the underdog in this game, it is an easy choice to not only cover the spread but be the choice on the moneyline.
NBA Odds: Mavericks 106, Suns 102
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