Golden State Warriors vs. Phoenix Suns, Prediction, & Pick
Warriors vs. Suns Odds
| Warriors Odds | +1 |
| Suns Odds | -1 |
| Over/Under | 231 |
| Date | Tue, Dec. 12 |
| Time | 10:00 p.m. |
| TV | TNT |
On Tuesday, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors will visit Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns in the desert for a nationally televised affair. Tip off is set for 10:00 p.m. ET on TNT. Golden State is 10-12 through their first 22 games and currently outside of the Western Conference playoffs. Phoenix is 12-10, currently tied for the 7-seed in the conference.
Ahead of tip off this evening, the Suns are favored by 1 point on the spread. The total is set at over/under 231 points.
Below, we break down the matchup for both teams and offer a free pick for the betting community!
Don’t live in a state with sports betting? Use our PrizePicks referral code & Underdog promo code GRINDERS for a combined $200 in sign-up bonuses on NBA DFS Pick’em today.
Golden State Warriors
Warriors dynasty losing steam
Entering play on Tuesday, the Warriors own a 10-12 record and find themselves on the outside of the Western Conference playoff picture with roughly a quarter of the season under their belt. Through 22 games, Golden State has yet to do anything overly impressive, and that has continued during the last month – ranking 19th in offensive efficiency and 16th in defensive efficiency.
Impact of Draymond Green
Since Draymond Green returned from suspension on November 28, the Warriors are 2-3 in his five games, ranking 15th in Net Rating, 14th in offensive efficiency, and 15th in defensive efficiency. During that stretch, Golden State has allowed the 5th-most opponent field goal attempts per game, but they have done a good job defending the perimeter and disrupting passing lanes.
Overall, the Warriors are a mediocre basketball team, with their strengths not being strong enough to overcome their many weaknesses at the moment.
Phoenix Suns
Kevin Durant ruled OUT
Kevin Durant has been ruled out for the Suns tonight due to a left ankle sprain. His absence is seemingly a big loss for Phoenix, but the team has performed admirably in his absence, winning two of the three games that he has missed this year.
According to Cleaning the Glass, the Suns rank in the 86th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 49th percentile in defensive efficiency this season when Durant is on the floor, compared to the 25th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 62nd percentile in defensive efficiency when he is on the sidelines.
Who will step up for Phoenix?
Devin Booker has taken on an expanded role this season with Durant off of the floor, averaging 31.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per 36 minutes of action. In three games that Durant has missed, Booker has scored no fewer than 28 points.
The return of Bradley Beal to the lineup tonight also gives the Suns another potent scoring option, which should help keep their offense afloat despite missing their leading scorer, Durant, who is averaging 31.0 points per game this year.
Golden State Warriors vs. Phoenix Suns Prediction
Suns Moneyline (-115), BetMGM
Simply, this is a difficult matchup for the Warriors, even with Kevin Durant not in uniform tonight. During the last month of action, the Suns defense has played extremely well, ranking 5th in opponent three-point percentage and 6th in opponent free throw attempts per game. They have won two of the three games they have played without Durant this season, and tonight they get to play at home against a Golden State team that does not do any individual thing particularly well. At a virtual pick’em, Phoenix on the moneyline is worth a small stab in this spot.
Image Credit: Getty Images