Dallas Mavericks vs Phoenix Suns Prediction, 12/23/2020 NBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Dallas Mavericks vs Phoenix Suns

Date: Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Location: PHX Arena in Phoenix, AZ

TV: ESPN

Odds/Point Spread: Dallas (+1.5)

The Dallas Mavericks (43-32 last year) travel to PHX Arena on Wednesday where they'll take on the Phoenix Suns (34-39 last season). Dallas opens this matchup as 1.5-point underdogs. The over/under has been set at 237.

Dallas steps onto the hardwood after finishing with a record of 43-32 last year. They had an average of 117.0 points per game (3rd in basketball) while hitting 46.1% from the field. The Mavericks hit on 36.7% on shots from beyond the arc (1,136 of 3,095) and 77.9% from the free throw line. As a team, Dallas grabbed 46.9 boards per contest and racked up 1,849 dimes last season, which ranked 9th in the league in terms of passing the ball. They turned it over 12.7 times per game and as a group committed 19.5 fouls on a nightly basis. Defensively, the Mavericks were able to force 11.9 turnovers per contest and they drew 21.3 personal fouls. The Mavericks defensively allowed a shooting percentage of 45.8% (3,143 of 6,868) and they surrendered 45.4 rebounds per contest as a basketball team. They were 22nd in the league in giving up assists with 1,794 surrendered last season. They gave up 35.1% on shots from beyond the perimeter while they were 16th in the NBA in points per game allowed (112.1).

The Dallas Mavericks faced the Los Angeles Clippers and walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 111-97 in their last game. Dallas finished the contest with a 42.2% FG percentage (38 of 90) and converted 11 of their 37 shots from downtown. From the charity stripe, the Mavericks converted 10 of 17 attempts for a percentage of 58.8%. Pertaining to hauling in boards, they compiled 42 with 8 of them being on the offensive end. They also doled out 20 assists in this contest as well as having 5 steals and 3 rejections. In terms of defending, Dallas let their opponent shoot 48.4% from the floor on 44 out of 91. Los Angeles recorded 22 assists and 8 steals in the matchup. On top of that, the Clippers totaled 52 rebounds (8 offensive, 44 defensive) and had 2 blocked shots. Los Angeles shot 92.3% at the charity stripe by burying 12 of their 13 tries. They made 11 out of their 29 shots from downtown.

Luka Dončić is someone who had an impact in the game. He racked up 38 points on 15 of 28 shooting. He played 41:43 and also snagged 9 boards. Dončić finished 53.6% from the floor and earned 9 dimes. One more player that had an impact in the matchup for the Mavericks was Dorian Finney-Smith. He collected 6 rebounds and tallied 4 assists. He finished the game at 54.5% from the floor in this matchup by connecting on 6-of-11 (16 points). When this game wrapped up, Finney-Smith was on the court for 36:40.

Phoenix had a record of 34-39 last season. The Suns committed 22.0 fouls per contest and they went 83.4% from the free throw line. They earned an assist 27.2 times per contest (1st in the NBA) and they lost possession via turnover 14.8 times per contest. Phoenix earned 8,294 pts throughout last season (113.6 per contest) and they grabbed 43.5 rebounds per contest. As an offense, the Suns shot 46.8% from the field, which ranked 9th in the NBA. The Suns on defense were ranked 20th in basketball in PPG surrendered with 113.4. The Phoenix defense conceded 36.3% on 3-pointers (848 of 2,335) and their opposition knocked down 78.8% of their free throw attempts. They forced 15.6 turnovers on a nightly basis and allowed teams to shoot 47.2% from the field (22nd in basketball). They surrendered 23.6 assists and 43.3 rebounds every game, which was ranked 8th and 7th in basketball.

When they last stepped on the court, the Phoenix Suns got the victory with a final of 128-102 against the Dallas Mavericks. The Suns pulled down 38 defensive rebounds and 7 offensive rebounds for a total of 45 in the matchup. They rejected 4 attempts while getting 6 steals in this contest. The Mavericks earned 18 personal fouls for this game which got the Suns to the free throw line for a total of 21 tries. They were able to bury 16 of them for a rate of 76.2%. In terms of shooting from distance, Phoenix knocked down 14 of 34 attempts (41.2%). Overall, the Suns finished the game shooting 49 out of 89 from the field which gave them a percentage of 55.1%. The Suns permitted the Mavericks to make 39 of 89 tries from the field which left them with a rate of 43.8% in this contest. They finished 30.8% from 3-point land by going 8 of 26 and finished the contest at 16 of 19 from the free throw line (84.2%). With respect to attacking the glass, Phoenix permitted Dallas to collect 43 in all (11 on the offensive glass).

Devin Booker ended up being a factor for the Suns for the contest. He made 11 of 20 in this matchup for a rate of 55.0%, which earned him 27 points. Booker snagged 7 rebounds in his 31:33 of time on the hardwood and had 5 dimes in this contest. An additional guy that ended up coming through for Phoenix was Cameron Johnson. He left the arena with 15 points in 30:06 on the hardwood by way of 7 of 11 shooting in the matchup. Johnson ended the game having shot 63.6% from the floor while earning 3 assists and 5 rebounds.

Who will win tonight's NBA game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Dallas (+1.5)

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