Suns vs Mavericks | Prediction & Pick

NBA Free Pick – Friday, December  17, 2010

vs.

Phoenix Suns (12-12) vs. Dallas Mavericks (20-5)
Friday, December 17, 2010 at 9:30 pm EST on ESPN

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Last meeting:  These teams have not met this season.

The Phoenix Suns are the highest scoring team in the NBA but they give up the most points per game too.  As a result I guess it should not be surprising that they are having a .500 season.  With so many points being scored several players are enjoying good seasons statistically but this team can’t seem to stop anybody which means when their shooting is off they have little chance of winning.  In every game they have won they have scored a minimum of 100 points.  That is going to be tough to achieve against a Dallas squad that has become one of the stingier teams in the league.  This team needs a spark and if they can pull of the surprising upset in Big D they might be able to put together a run.  They will do everything they can to increase the pace but if the shots aren’t falling it won’t make a difference.

Dallas is red hot and needs to be to keep pace with San Antonio.  With their defensive commitment they have won 13 of their last 14 including 12 in a row until their streak was snapped by the Bucks (of all teams) at home on Monday.  Even though they have been winning the Mavs have been unpredictable at home where they are only 6-8-2 ATS.  The Mavs have to be careful because although though Phoenix plays almost no defense they can lull teams out of their gameplan with their freewheeling ways.  With a veteran team led by a PG as heady as Jason Kidd this seems less likely so look for Dallas to use this game as part of a bigger winning streak.

The current line on this one is Dallas -7.  I the the Mavs will win but their isn’t great value here.

Prediction: Phoenix won their last game so they should feel a bit better going into this one.  This is the first of a brutal road stretch with stops in San Antonio and Oklahoma City.  If they don’t get it done they will be mired in another losing streak quickly.  That urgency will make for a good game but still a loss.

Score:  Dallas 102 – Phoenix 98

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Phoenix Sun Betting Trends

• Suns are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
• Suns are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 vs. NBA Southwest.

Dallas Mavericks

• Mavericks are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games playing on 1 days rest.
• Mavericks are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a S.U. win.
• Favorite is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
• Home team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.