The Suns return home after closing out a three-game road trip with a 99-96 win in Minnesota on Monday night, while the Mavericks open a four-game road trip riding a two-game straight up win streak.

The Suns are set to hit the hardwood on Wednesday night as 8.5-point favourites to win on the NBA odds. The total is pegged at a lofty 216.0.

Mavericks vs. Suns NBA Betting Odds

Wednesday night’s matchup marks the first meeting of the season between these clubs. The Suns have established a clear edge over Dallas while racking up six consecutive straight up and against the spread wins in head-to-head action, including four victories as betting underdogs. However, recent dates between these two clubs have been hard fought. The past three games were settled by a combined margin of just 11 points. The UNDER currently enjoys a 4-1-0 run, but recent clashes between these two teams have been far from low scoring. The total has finished below 216 just once in their past eight meetings, and reached 229 or higher on four occasions.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks look to have turned the corner at the sportsbooks as they attempt to extend a three-game win streak that has lifted them to the top of the Southwest Division. After covering the spread just twice during a 6-3 straight up start, the Mavs have rewarded sports bettors in three of four outings. Each of those recent victories coming by double-digit margins.

Luka Doncic has racked up a team-high 24.9 points per game, while also leading the Mavs in both rebounds and assists. However, with Doncic now sidelined by injuries, the leadership role falls to Kristaps Porzingis. The big man has played his best ball of the season over the past week, averaging over 27 points per game in his three appearances while also tallying a pair of double-doubles. However, Porzingis has produced mixed results in his past four appearances versus the Suns, averaging just 15 points per game and topping 20 points just once.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns encountered some surprisingly stiff competition in Monday’s win over the Timberwolves. Phoenix never led by more than seven points, and trailed by as many as five in the late stages before sealing the win with game-ending 16-8 run. That marks somewhat of a wake-up call for the Suns, who had romped to victory by an average margin of 20 points in their three previous outings, and by double-digit margins in five of the first eight victories on their current 9-0 tear. While Devin Booker has consistently racked up team-high point totals, including a 29-point performance in Monday’s win, it was veteran Chris Paul who provided the spark on Monday. Paul tallied 19 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, and is poised to record his fifth double-double on home hardwood so far this season.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Mavericks vs. Suns?

• Regular Season

Mavericks Team Leaders

DAL

Points	Luka Doncic 25.24
Assists	Luka Doncic 8.74
Rebounds	Luka Doncic 8.85
FG%	Dwight Powell 63.5
Steals	Dorian Finney-Smith 1.21
Blocks	Kristaps Porzingis 1.79

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 24.98
Assists	Chris Paul 10.09
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 10.57
FG%	Justin Jackson 71.4
Steals	Chris Paul 1.91
Blocks	Bismack Biyombo 1.4

• Regular Season

Suns Team Leaders

DAL

Points	Luka Doncic 25.24
Assists	Luka Doncic 8.74
Rebounds	Luka Doncic 8.85
FG%	Dwight Powell 63.5
Steals	Dorian Finney-Smith 1.21
Blocks	Kristaps Porzingis 1.79

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 24.98
Assists	Chris Paul 10.09
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 10.57
FG%	Justin Jackson 71.4
Steals	Chris Paul 1.91
Blocks	Bismack Biyombo 1.4

Injuries

Dallas

Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)

Out indefinitely Foot - 26 / 01 / 22

Frank Ntilikina (PG)

Prob Tues Illness - 23 / 01 / 22

Luka Doncic (SF)

Prob Sun Neck - 21 / 01 / 22

Sterling Brown (SG)

Out indefinitely Foot - 19 / 01 / 22

Maxi Kleber (PF)

Prob Wed Knee - 17 / 01 / 22

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Prob Wed Knee - 17 / 01 / 22

Kristaps Porzingis (PF)

Doub Sat Conditioning - 15 / 01 / 22

Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)

Ques Sun Illness - 09 / 01 / 22

Luka Doncic (SF)

Ques Sun Ankle - 06 / 01 / 22

Kristaps Porzingis (PF)

Out indefinitely Illness - 03 / 01 / 22

Phoenix

JaVale McGee (C)

Ques Fri Knee - 25 / 01 / 22

Jae Crowder (SF)

Ques Fri Wrist - 23 / 01 / 22

Cameron Payne (PG)

Ques Fri Wrist - 22 / 01 / 22

Deandre Ayton (C)

Out indefinitely Ankle - 17 / 01 / 22

Chris Paul (PG)

Prob Fri Illness - 13 / 01 / 22

Cameron Johnson (PF)

Prob Mon Ankle - 10 / 01 / 22

Ish Wainright (PF)

Prob Fri Conditioning - 10 / 01 / 22

Jalen Smith (PF)

Ques Thurs Head - 05 / 01 / 22

Landry Shamet (PG)

Prob Tues Conditioning - 04 / 01 / 22

JaVale McGee (C)

Out indefinitely Illness - 30 / 12 / 21

Injuries

Dallas

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)	Out indefinitely	Foot - 26 / 01 / 22	1-1	1-1	+ -
Hardaway Jr. suffered a fractured fifth metatarsal on his left foot, and there is no timetable for return.
Frank Ntilikina (PG)	Prob Tues	Illness - 23 / 01 / 22	1-2	1-2	+ -
Ntilikina sat out the last contest due to a non-COVID-19 illness, but it is projected that he will be in Tuesday's lineup versus the Warriors.
Luka Doncic (SF)	Prob Sun	Neck - 21 / 01 / 22	1-3	1-3	+ -
Doncic is dealing with a neck strain, but it is likely that he will play against the Grizzlies on Sunday.
Sterling Brown (SG)	Out indefinitely	Foot - 19 / 01 / 22	1-4	1-4	+ -
Brown is dealing with left foot soreness, leaving his status going forward clouded.
Maxi Kleber (PF)	Prob Wed	Knee - 17 / 01 / 22	2-4	1-5	+ -
Kleber exited the previous contest with a sore left knee, but it is expected that he will suit up Wednesday against the Raptors.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 17 / 01 / 22	2-4	1-5	+ -
Bullock missed the previous game with right knee soreness, but it is likely that he will battle the Raptors on Wednesday.
Kristaps Porzingis (PF)	Doub Sat	Conditioning - 15 / 01 / 22	3-5	1-7	+ -
Porzingis has cleared the league's health and safety protocol, but he is unlikely to suit up on Saturday versus the Magic due to conditioning issues.
Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)	Ques Sun	Illness - 09 / 01 / 22	5-5	2-8	+ -
Finney-Smith is hampered by a non-COVID-19 illness, and it is unclear if he will battle the Bulls on Sunday.
Luka Doncic (SF)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 06 / 01 / 22	7-5	2-10	+ -
Doncic sat out the last contest with a right ankle sprain, and it is unknown if he will suit up for Sunday's contest versus the Bulls.
Kristaps Porzingis (PF)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 03 / 01 / 22	7-6	2-11	+ -
Porzingis will miss an undetermined length of time after winding up in the league's health and safety protocol.

Phoenix

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
JaVale McGee (C)	Ques Fri	Knee - 25 / 01 / 22	1-2	1-2	+ -
McGee missed the previous game with left knee soreness, and is undetermined if he will be active Friday against the Timberwolves.
Jae Crowder (SF)	Ques Fri	Wrist - 23 / 01 / 22	2-2	1-3	+ -
Crowder missed the last two contests due to a left wrist contusion, and it remains to be seen if he will play Friday versus the Timberwolves.
Cameron Payne (PG)	Ques Fri	Wrist - 22 / 01 / 22	2-2	1-3	+ -
Payne was absent from the previous two games with a right wrist injury, and it is unclear if he will suit up Friday against the Timberwolves.
Deandre Ayton (C)	Out indefinitely	Ankle - 17 / 01 / 22	4-2	2-4	+ -
Ayton is dealing with with a right ankle sprain, and there is no timetable for his return.
Chris Paul (PG)	Prob Fri	Illness - 13 / 01 / 22	5-3	2-6	+ -
Paul is managing an illness, but it is expected that he will partake in Friday's clash with the Pacers.
Cameron Johnson (PF)	Prob Mon	Ankle - 10 / 01 / 22	5-4	3-6	+ -
Johnson has sat out the last three contests with a left ankle sprain, but it is projected that he will be active for Monday's showdown against the Spurs.
Ish Wainright (PF)	Prob Fri	Conditioning - 10 / 01 / 22	5-4	3-6	+ -
Wainright has completed the league's health and safety protocols, and it is likely that he will partake in Friday's contest versus the Pacers.
Jalen Smith (PF)	Ques Thurs	Head - 05 / 01 / 22	8-4	4-8	+ -
Smith was forced from the previous contest due to a head injury, and it is unclear if he will line up against the Clippers on Thursday.
Landry Shamet (PG)	Prob Tues	Conditioning - 04 / 01 / 22	8-4	4-8	+ -
Shamet has been activated from the league's health and safety protocol and is dealing with conditioning issues, but it is anticipated that he will battle the Raptors on Tuesday.
JaVale McGee (C)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 30 / 12 / 21	9-6	6-9	+ -
McGee has been posted to the league's health and safety protocol, and it is up in the air when he will return.