by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Jan 31, 2022
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Venue: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Where to watch: TNT
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Suns -7
BetMGM: Suns -7.5
Caesars: NL
Season record
Nets: 29-20 (6th, East)
Suns: 40-9 (1st, West)
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Nets - Suns preview, analysis and prediction
We've officially gotten the confirmation that the Phoenix Suns are the deepest team in the NBA. How else can they be this good even though key contributors continue to get hurt?
Devin Booker and Chris Paul, that's how.
The Suns enter Tuesday's matchup at home with the Brooklyn Nets on a 10-game winning streak, and there should be no reason why the most consistent, dangerous team in the NBA shouldn't keep the ball rolling here.
It's not just how Phoenix has been winning; that part seems just status quo at this point. This is their second winning streak of at least 10 games this season, and Booker has been the leading scorer in eight of the 10 victories. Booker had 28 points in a 115-110 win Sunday at home against the San Antonio Spurs, while Paul had 20 points and a season-high 19 assists.
For such an incredible run, Monty Williams is also coaching his first All-Star Game with Booker and Paul likely to follow. How Booker was not an All-Star starter instead of Andrew Wiggins is still the greatest mystery of our time, but that's neither here nor there for this discussion.
"Over the course of the long season, there's nothing wrong with having a little benchmark, a little goal," Paul said. "I'm just happy for Monty, happy for our staff. That's cool."
What's been most incredible of Phoenix's run has been the play of its frontcourt. Deandre Ayton, who is now dealing with ankle issues, missed time due to COVID earlier in the year. Jae Crowder, who will not play Tuesday due to a wrist injury, also missed some time due to COVID. Even with those two stalwarts out, the Suns have gotten great play from Bismack Biyombo, JaVale McGee and Jalen Smith when he's gotten time.
Funny enough, the Suns haven't been the best team on the books, as they're just 12-14 against the spread at home this season and 27-21 overall. Likely due to high spreads and not needing such dominant performances to keep the wins going, but you tend to see this on opposite sides of the spectrum.
But when the Suns make their shots, as this team has been prone to do over the past couple of years, they're good n the books. When the Suns make 47 percent of their shots or better over a three-game stretch, they're 8-2 ATS this season and 33-16 over the past three seasons. In a five-game stretch, which Phoenix is currently on, the Suns are 16-6 over the past three seasons and 3-0 this season.
In short, when they're good, they're very good.
This matchup would be so much better if the Brooklyn Big 3 was healthy and intact, but man, even if they were, would the Nets be in such a position? They've slipped to sixth in the East with Kevin Durant out, while James Harden has tried to carry the carcass of this team while Kyrie Irving only plays games every now and then.
Brooklyn is coming off a 110-106 loss to the Golden State Warriors in the battle of the backcourts. Harden did not play due to a right-hand injury and is listed as day-to-day for this matchup. Kyrie Irving had 32 points on 9 of 21 shooting in the loss to the Warriors, and Patty Mills had 24 points on just as horrendous of a shooting night.
"It's great having him back," Nets coach Steve Nash said of Irving. "We've had so many injuries and interruptions this year, availability issues, to add a player his caliber, even if it's just on the road has been much needed and been great for our group," Nash said. "Fortunately, the reality of the last 18 months for us is that we've never had an extended run of health. So to have a player that plays on the road and at home is not that different than what we face week to week anyway."
The Nets are 14-10 ATS on the road this season and if Harden can't go, those seven points seem like a good way to go. But given the way the Suns are playing right now, and with the Nets shorthanded, you can't go against Phoenix here. Irving can only carry a team so much at this rate. Suns by 14
Funny enough, the Suns haven't been the best team on the books, as they're just 12-14 against the spread at home this season and 27-21 overall. Likely due to high spreads and not needing such dominant performances to keep the wins going, but you tend to see this on opposite sides of the spectrum.
But when the Suns make their shots, as this team has been prone to do over the past couple of years, they're good n the books. When the Suns make 47 percent of their shots or better over a three-game stretch, they're 8-2 ATS this season and 33-16 over the past three seasons. In a five-game stretch, which Phoenix is currently on, the Suns are 16-6 over the past three seasons and 3-0 this season.
In short, when they're good, they're very good.
This matchup would be so much better if the Brooklyn Big 3 was healthy and intact, but man, even if they were, would the Nets be in such a position? They've slipped to sixth in the East with Kevin Durant out, while James Harden has tried to carry the carcass of this team while Kyrie Irving only plays games every now and then.
Brooklyn is coming off a 110-106 loss to the Golden State Warriors in the battle of the backcourts. Harden did not play due to a right-hand injury and is listed as day-to-day for this matchup. Kyrie Irving had 32 points on 9 of 21 shooting in the loss to the Warriors, and Patty Mills had 24 points on just as horrendous of a shooting night.
"It's great having him back," Nets coach Steve Nash said of Irving. "We've had so many injuries and interruptions this year, availability issues, to add a player his caliber, even if it's just on the road has been much needed and been great for our group," Nash said. "Fortunately, the reality of the last 18 months for us is that we've never had an extended run of health. So to have a player that plays on the road and at home is not that different than what we face week to week anyway."
The Nets are 14-10 ATS on the road this season and if Harden can't go, those seven points seem like a good way to go. But given the way the Suns are playing right now, and with the Nets shorthanded, you can't go against Phoenix here. Irving can only carry a team so much at this rate. Suns by 14
Betting trends
The Nets are 5-0 ATS in their last five road games against teams with a home winning percentage above .600.
The Nets are 4-17 ATS in their last 21 following an ATS win.
The under is 9-1 in the Suns' last 10 after allowing 100 points or more the previous game.
Projected starting lineup
Nets:
PG: James Harden
SG: Kyrie Irving
SF: Patty Mills
PF: Kessler Edwards
C: Nic Claxton
SF: Patty Mills
PF: Kessler Edwards
C: Nic Claxton
Suns:
PG: Chris Paul
SG: Devin Booker
SF: Mikal Bridges
PF: Ish Wainwright
C: Bismack Biyombo
SF: Mikal Bridges
PF: Ish Wainwright
C: Bismack Biyombo
Key injuries
Nets: Kevin Durant (knee, out), LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle, out), Joe Harris (ankle, out)
Suns: Deandre Ayton (ankle, out), Jae Crowder (wrist, out), Abdel Nader (knee, out), Landry Shamet (ankle, out), Cam Payne (wrist, out)
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
