Phoenix Suns at Dallas Mavericks
Friday, 12/17/10, 9:30 PM EDT, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: Dallas -7
Current Betting Line: Dallas -7
Opening Total: 210.5
Current Total: 211
Phoenix enters with an even 12-12 overall record and is coming into Dallas off a 128-122 home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Suns welcomed back starting center Robin Lopez to the lineup in that contest, as the squad posted a 6-8 record in the 14 games that he missed. “I’m really excited to continue play with Robin and he did a good job tonight,” said Channing Frye. “He really helped out.” The biggest impact that Lopez made was on the boards, as the Suns out-rebounded the Timberwolves by seven. Phoenix was out-rebounded by at least that amount seven times when he was out injured. The club is 9-8 versus Western Conference opponents, including an even 4-4 mark on the road. Phoenix is 20-8 ATS versus the Southwest division and is currently a seven-point underdog on the NBA lines page.
The Suns will be meeting the Mavericks for the first of four meetings in the 2010-11 season and dropped the season series, 1-2, in 2009-10. Phoenix is 9-12 versus Dallas in the regular season since point guard Steve Nash left the Mavs and returned to the Valley of the Sun prior to the 2004-05 campaign. The club embarks on a highly-difficult three-game road trip that will have them play teams with a combined record of 59-16. There are seven teams in the NBA with 18 or more wins and Phoenix gets to visit three of them on this trip. The high level of competition will not end there, coming back home to face the Miami Heat on December 23.
Dallas nearly dropped a second consecutive game in picking up a 103-98 victory over Portland on Wednesday and the team’s defense has been lackluster over that span. The Mavericks held opponents to 93.0 points and 43.4 percent shooting during a 12-game winning streak, but have allowed an average of 100.5 points in the last two contests. “We’re not where we need to be yet,” said coach Rick Carlisle. “We’re trying to be a great team.” The squad has recorded a 12-4 home record on the season, including a 6-2 mark versus conference opponents. Dallas is 8-3 ATS versus the Pacific division.
The Mavericks have captured six of the last eight games against the Suns, including the last five at home. All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki led the offense during last year’s series, averaging 26.7 points and 6.7 rebounds, while the team scored 105.0 points. It’s important to point out that the squad is 11-1 this year when at least five players score in double figures, which could be an easy accomplishment in facing the worst defense in the league tonight.
Bettors will be interested in knowing that the Suns are 1-3-1 ATS in the last five meetings in Dallas, while the home team is 5-2 ATS in the last seven in the series.
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