Dallas Mavericks vs Phoenix Suns Picks and Predictions November 8th 2024

Mavericks vs Suns November 8th 2024

At 7:30 ET, the Dallas Mavericks (-158) will host the Phoenix Suns (+133) in a Western Conference matchup. The over/under line for the game is sitting at 230.5 points.

Phoenix comes into the game with a 7-1 record, while the Mavericks are 5-3. ESPN will have the television coverage for this game, which will be played at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

Suns vs. Mavericks Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Phoenix Suns at Dallas Mavericks
• Where: Dallas at American Airlines Center
• Date: Friday, November 8th
• Betting Odds DAL -3, PHO +133 | DAL -158 O/U 230.5

With a 115-112 win over the Heat on Wednesday, the Suns improved to 7-1 for the season. Playing at home, Phoenix was favored by 5.5 points but didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game were 227, just over the 222.5-point line.

After trailing 87-84 going into the 4th quarter, the Suns outscored Miami 31-25 in the final period to secure the win.

Kevin Durant’s 32 points and 8 rebounds powered the Suns to a win over the Heat, with 12 of his points coming in the 3rd quarter and another 11 in the 4th. Devin Booker added 22 points and 9 assists, while Jusuf Nurkic posted a double-double with 20 points and 18 rebounds, hitting 3 threes without a miss.

Phoenix connected on 18 threes at a 41.9% clip, with an overall field goal percentage of 50%. Durant contributed 4 threes, though he shot just 36.4% from deep.

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Defensively, the Suns gave up 112 points to the Heat but held them to 25 points in both the 1st and 4th quarters. Phoenix allowed 33 points in the 2nd quarter and 29 in the 3rd. Overall, the Heat shot 43% from the field.

From beyond the arc, the Suns allowed 13 made threes on 38% shooting. Miami also went 19/20 from the free-throw line. The Suns grabbed 36 defensive rebounds while giving up 13 offensive boards, and they added 5 steals and 6 blocks.

• Although Phoenix has a straight up record of 6-4 in their last ten road games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 4-6. The team averaged 112 points per game in these games.
• Looking back on the team’s last five games as the underdog, the Suns have a straight up record of 2-3. Their record vs the spread in these games was 2-3.
• Over their last five games, the Suns have an over/under record of 3-2 and are 1-4 vs. the spread.

Dallas improved to 5-3 on the season with a 119-99 win over the Bulls on Wednesday. Playing at home, the Mavericks were favored by 10.5 points and covered the spread. The game’s total points of 218 fell short of the 236.5 O/U line.

A key moment came when Dallas went on a 17-0 run, turning a 9-6 deficit into a 23-9 lead. They led 88-68 going into the 4th quarter, where both teams scored 31 points.

Luka Doncic led the Mavericks with 27 points and 13 assists in their win over the Bulls, shooting 42.1% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range. Kyrie Irving and Daniel Gafford both added 17 points, with Gafford shooting 77.8% from the field and Irving hitting 63.6% of his shots.

As a team, the Mavericks shot 48.4% from the field, but struggled from beyond the arc, making just 12 threes at a 31.6% rate. Irving scored 15 of his 17 points in the 1st quarter, while Jaden Hardy added all 11 of his points in the 4th.

The Mavericks’ defense was on point Wednesday, holding the Bulls to just 99 points. Dallas gave up 24 points in the 1st quarter, 21 in the 2nd, and 23 in the 3rd, before allowing 31 in the 4th. Overall, they limited Chicago to 41% shooting from the field.

From beyond the arc, the Mavericks held the Bulls to 12 made threes on 28% shooting. Dallas sent Chicago to the line 23 times, where they made 15 free throws. The Mavericks also recorded 11 steals and 4 blocks.

The Suns come in as the underdog at +3, making them our top choice on the point spread. We not only expect them to cover the spread but also believe they have a strong chance of winning the game outright, especially if you’re aiming for a higher moneyline payout.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 230.5, and our model predicts the Suns and Mavericks to score a combined 264 points. We recommend betting on the over.

Suns Seek Seventh Consecutive Win in Clash with Mavericks

The Phoenix Suns are on fire, riding a six-game winning streak and aiming for their seventh straight victory when they take on the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night in a rematch of their Oct. 26 encounter. In that game, the Suns triumphed 114-102 despite a season-high 40-point performance from Dallas’ superstar Luka Dončić.

Phoenix’s Impressive Streak Continues

The Suns (7-1) have been dominant throughout their early-season run. Their latest victory, a hard-fought 115-112 win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday, showcased their poise under pressure. Kevin Durant led the way with 32 points and eight rebounds, while Devin Booker added 22 points. The duo has been a driving force for the Suns, consistently delivering in clutch moments.

Durant spoke about the team’s ability to stay composed in tight games:

“We don’t let it rattle us. Guys aren’t panicking on the bench, coaches aren’t getting up screaming or upset. We just try to focus on how to be good the next possession and move from there.”

Jusuf Nurkic also made a significant impact against Miami, contributing 20 points and a season-high 18 rebounds. The Suns have relied on Nurkic’s presence in the paint, especially with rookie forward Ryan Dunn potentially sidelined after spraining his left ankle in that game.

Durant currently averages 27.8 points per game, ranking seventh in the NBA, while Booker is not far behind at 24.4 points per contest. Their synergy has been crucial to Phoenix’s success as they aim to stay at the top of the Western Conference standings.

Dallas Looking to Build Momentum

Meanwhile, the Mavericks (5-3) are seeking to find their groove after an inconsistent start to the season. However, they showed flashes of brilliance in a commanding 119-99 win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night. Luka Dončić led the charge with 27 points and 13 assists, while Kyrie Irving and Daniel Gafford chipped in with 17 points each.

Dončić, who is averaging 28.6 points this season (down from 33.9 last year), has been the linchpin of Dallas’ offense. Despite his slightly lower scoring average, he remains a triple-double threat every night.

Dallas also welcomed Klay Thompson, who has added another dimension to their offensive scheme. The former Golden State sharpshooter is averaging 14.5 points per game while shooting 39.1% from beyond the arc. Coach Jason Kidd has emphasized ball movement to integrate Thompson into their system, moving away from their traditional isolation-heavy style:

“We have two of the best iso players (Dončić and Irving) in the league, but getting others involved makes us harder to guard,” Kidd noted. “The guys made a conscious effort for Klay to touch the ball, and it’s starting to pay off.”

The Mavericks showed improved ball movement in their victory over Chicago, recording 33 assists on 45 made field goals. This shift in style has helped them generate better offensive flow and engage multiple players in the action.

Key Matchups and Injury Updates

The Suns will need to keep their focus against a Mavericks team that has weapons beyond just Dončić and Irving. Dereck Lively, Dallas’ starting center, remains sidelined with a shoulder injury, which could impact the Mavericks’ interior defense against a physical Suns frontcourt led by Nurkic.

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On the Suns’ side, Ryan Dunn‘s availability is uncertain after his recent ankle injury. His absence could reduce Phoenix’s defensive versatility, especially against Dallas’ dynamic backcourt duo.

Outlook

With both teams looking to build momentum, this matchup is set to be an exciting clash of Western Conference heavyweights. The Suns will aim to continue their winning streak by leaning on their star power in Durant and Booker, while the Mavericks will look to exploit their newfound offensive balance and ball movement.

For Phoenix, maintaining their defensive intensity and controlling the glass will be key, especially if Dunn is unavailable. Meanwhile, Dallas will need to contain Durant and Booker while hoping that their supporting cast can step up in the absence of Lively.

As the Suns and Mavericks renew their rivalry, this game promises to deliver high-level basketball with plenty at stake early in the season.