The Dallas Mavericks have become the new powerhouse in the West after Rajon Rondo’s arrival to the team. However, the Mavericks appeared to need more time to fully adjust with their new-look lineup, as they lost to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday. Rondo and the rest of the Mavericks will give it another go when they head to Arizona to face the Phoenix Suns, who dealt the Mavs a loss in their first meeting early this month.
The NBA Christmas Day games extravaganza is nearing. While waiting for LeBron James’ return to South Beach, along with the rest of the games on that day, you can check out our list of the best Christmas games of all-time here.
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Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns Betting Preview
Where: US Airways Center, Phoenix
When: Tuesday, December 23, 9:00PM ET
Line: Dallas Mavericks (+1.5) at Phoenix Suns (-1.5); total 214.0 –view all NBA lines
Betting on the Dallas Mavericks
The acquisition of Rajon Rondo has bolstered the Mavericks offense, but apparently not their defense.
The Mavericks saw their three-game win streak end on Monday following a 105-102 defeat at the hands of the high-scoring Atlanta Hawks, who entered the ball game averaging 103.1 PPG. Monta Ellis was the top scorer for the Mavs with 18 points. He was followed by Dirk Nowitzki, who had 16. Rondo, meanwhile, had a double-double of 13 points and 11 assists.
[sc:NBA240banner ]Ellis is having a blast on offense as of late, averaging 27.0 PPG over the Mavs’ last three games. He paced the Mavs in the Phoenix game with 33 points on 14-for-22 from the field.
Overall, Dallas’ offense looked explosive. The team’s defense, on the other hand, remained faulty, which was the same problem the Mavs had when they lost to the Phoenix Suns 118-106 in their first meeting on December 5. In that game, the Mavericks allowed the Suns to shoot 56.3 percent from the field and 50% (12-for-26) from the three-point area. Dallas opponents have averaged 102.5 PPG against them thus far this season.
The Suns are the second-most productive three-point shooting team in the league with 9.9 treys made per game, so it would be critical for the Mavs to close out on Phoenix’ sharpshooters like Goran Dragic and Gerald Green, who combined for 6-for-13 from beyond the arc in the win over Dallas.
The Mavericks are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games in Phoenix.
After winning all of their last three games, the Suns return home hoping they can build on their newfound momentum.
Phoenix followed up their road wins against the Charlotte Hornets (111-106) and the New York Knicks (99-90) with a commanding 104-92 victory over the Washington Wizards on Sunday. With a showdown tonight with Dallas, the Suns are likely going to rely again on the backcourt trio of Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, and Isaiah Thomas, just as they had in their recent victories.
Eric Bledsoe was superb against the Wizards, scoring 17 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Bledsoe was accompanied in the Suns’ starting backcourt by Dragic, who chipped in 16 points. Dragic was an unstoppable force in the first meeting with Dallas, as the Slovenian dropped 28 points on 10-for-15 shooting from the field.
Thomas came off the bench and scored 10 points versus Washington. Thomas was absent against Dallas, as he was then nursing an ankle injury. Since coming back from sick bay, the diminutive guard has averaged 15.2 PPG over the last six games. With Thomas now back in the lineup, the Suns should feel confident they could match the Mavs’ bench that scored 43 points against Atlanta.
With a guard-heavy lineup, the Suns could take advantage of Dallas’ poor open-court defense. The Mavericks are last in the NBA in defending against the fast break, allowing opposing teams to score 15.8 fast break points per game (FBP PG). That plays right into the Suns’ 17.2 FBP PG. The Suns scored 27 on the break in their win against Dallas on December 5.
The Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against Dallas.
