Game: Phoenix Suns @ Golden State Warriors
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
Odds: Suns -6, Warriors +6
Total: 224.5
Having already clinched a playoff spot, the Western Conference-leading Phoenix Suns would like to even up the season series with Golden State at 2-2. The Suns have won eight straight games and the Warriors have lost three in a row. Phoenix has Chris Paul back in the lineup ahead of schedule while the Warriors are still without leading scorer Stephen Curry. The Suns went 11-4 without Paul. Golden State has lost six of seven games without Curry.
It’s a great spot for Phoenix, which has done well in revenge spots. The two teams haven’t played since Christmas, but the Suns are 13-1 SU and 12-2 ATS in revenge situations. Plus, Phoenix has a rest advantage over the Warriors. The Suns beat Philadelphia 114-104 on Sunday. Golden State was blown out by Memphis 123-95 on Monday night. In 24 games with a rest advantage this season, Phoenix is 21-3 SU.
The Warriors will have Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Andre Iguodala tonight. Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga have done admirably while Curry has been out of the lineup, but make no mistake. The Warriors are not the same without their star. In the 12 games, Curry has missed this season, Golden State is 3-9 SU and ATS.
While the Warriors have struggled, Phoenix just continues to roll. The Suns are one of two teams – Memphis is the other – that are ranked in the top-5 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Phoenix has the third-highest scoring offense in the league averaging 115.3 points per game. On the defensive end, the Suns allow 106.9 points per game, good for eighth overall. In their current eight-game winning streak, Phoenix is scoring an average of 129.4 points per game.
The Suns have been a solid team to back this season with a 42-33 record against the spread. In 36 road games this season, Phoenix is 30-6 SU and the Suns are 23-13 ATS compared to their 19-20 ATS record at home. The Suns are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games, but they are only 3-6 ATS in their last nine against Golden State. In fact, Phoenix is just 2-17 SU the last 19 times they have traveled to play Golden State on the road.
The Warriors won the last game the two teams played on Christmas Day. Golden State won 116-107 as a six-point favorite. That game represents one of only eight home losses for Phoenix this season. The Warriors are now 1-6 ATS in their last seven games giving them a 20-16-1 ATS mark at home this year.
The total has gone Under in five of Golden State’s last six home games. The Under has also been the trend in the series with Phoenix. Ten of the last 12 head-to-head games have seen the total go Under. With the Suns averaging over 129 points a game recently, seven of the last nine Suns’ games have seen the total go Over.