Phoenix Suns vs Cleveland Cavaliers 01/04/2023 NBA Odds and Prediction

The Phoenix Suns head to the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.

Phoenix has been hit by the injury bug as Devin Booker has missed the team’s last three games played. The Suns have gone 0-3 SU during that span while averaging less than 100 points per game in scoring. Phoenix has lost six out of its last seven games played and is now down to 20-18 on the season, just 8th place in the Western Conference team standings.

Cleveland followed a three-game losing skid with back-to-back wins over the Chicago Bulls. In the second of the home-and-away series, Donovan Mitchell erupted for 71 points in a stunning come-from-behind overtime win. The Cavs are 24-14 SU on the season and they are just one-half game behind the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference team standings.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns head to Cleveland after getting blown out by the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden 102-83. Phoenix struggled to shoot the ball and shot just 39% from the field and 27% from deep. Deandre Ayton led the Suns with 12 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 29 minutes of action.

Phoenix ranks just 15th in scoring at 114.2 points per game this season and is shooting 46.8% from two-point distance and 38.2% from behind the arc. The Suns also rank 5th in passing at 26.8 assists per game. On defense, they rank 11th in scoring defense at 111.2 points per game allowed. The Suns rank 8th in blocks at 5.2 per game and 15th in steals at 7.1 per contest.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers are having a fantastic start to their 2022-23 campaign. Cleveland is just 0.5 games behind the Milwaukee Bucks in the Central Division. In their last game, the Cavs rallied from a 21-point first-half deficit to stun the Chicago Bulls 145-134 in overtime. In that game, Donovan Mitchell exploded for 71 points to lead the Cavs to victory.

Cleveland is just 21st in scoring at 112.1 points per game this season. They are shooting 38.2% from the field and 36.6% from the three-point range. The Cavs are just 23rd in passing at 23.6 assists per game. Cleveland owns the league’s best scoring defense at just 106.9 points per game allowed. The Cavs are just 28th in steals at 6.4 per game and 26th at only 4.1 blocks per outing.

Suns vs Cavaliers SU Prediction

These teams have split their last 10 head-to-head meetings but the Cavs have lost the last five.

Phoenix Suns SU trends:

• The Suns are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games played.
• The Suns are 2-6 SU in their last 8 games played on the road.
• The Suns are 11-1 SU in their last 12 games played against the Central Division.
• The Suns are 3-8 SU in their last 11 games played against the Eastern Conference.

Cleveland Cavaliers SU trends:

• The Cavaliers are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games played.
• The Cavaliers are 17-4 SU in their 21 home games played this season.
• The Cavaliers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games played against the Western Conference.
• The Cavaliers are 5-1 SU in their last 6 January games played.

Donovan Mitchell will be the focus of attention on Wednesday, especially for the Phoenix Suns’ defense. The Cavaliers’ superstar guard is coming off a 71-point performance the last time out as the Cavs rallied from a 21-point first-half deficit to beat the Chicago Bulls in overtime 145-134 on Monday.

Prior to that game, Mitchell had scored over 20 points only once in five games so it was no surprise that when he got going against the Bulls, he unloaded the entire arsenal in the second half and overtime. No doubt, he will have the momentum but the Suns’ defense should be ready to prevent another monster night by Spida.

But while the Suns can focus on guarding Mitchell, they will have a hard time matching the Cavs’ offense. Make no mistake, Cleveland isn’t a high-scoring team this season but with Devin Booker out for Phoenix, the Suns are offensively handicapped here.

Book has missed the Suns’ last three games played and they have gone 0-3 SU in those games while scoring just over 96 points per game during that span. It will be interesting to see who steps up but given the firepower on the other end, the Cavs have a clear advantage in this game.

The Suns have lost six out of their last seven games played and have dropped to 8th in the Western Conference team standings. Deandre Ayton voiced out his frustration after their last loss and that is not a good sign.

I’ll take the Cavs here they are 17-4 SU at home this season and have more firepower heading to Wednesday’s game.

Prediction: Cleveland Cavaliers

Phoenix Suns vs Cleveland Cavaliers 1/4/22 ATS Prediction

Phoenix is 1-5 ATS in their last 5 games played in Cleveland.

Phoenix Suns ATS trends

• The Suns are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
• The Suns are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games.
• The Suns are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 1 day’s rest.
• The Suns are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 Wednesday games.
• The Suns are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Suns are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight-up loss.
• The Suns are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games versus a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
• The Suns are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game
• The Suns are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games following an ATS loss.

Cleveland Cavaliers ATS trends:

• The Cavaliers are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
• The Cavaliers are 16-6-1 ATS in their last 23 home games.
• The Cavaliers are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
• The Cavaliers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Wednesday games.
• The Cavaliers are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 day’s rest.
• The Cavaliers are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 home games versus a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
• The Cavaliers are 21-9 ATS in their last 30 games following a straight-up win of more than 10 points.
• The Cavaliers are 37-17-2 ATS in their last 56 games following an ATS win.
• The Cavaliers are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Cavaliers are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Cavaliers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Cavaliers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games against a team with a winning straight-up record.
• The Cavaliers are 1-7-1 ATS in their last 9 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game.

The Cavaliers are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA this season and it will be hard for this banged-up Phoenix Suns team to win the game or even cover the spread with leading scorer Devin Booker still on the injured list.

In their last three games which Booker has missed, the Suns have scored just 96.3 points per game and lost all three games. Given the Cavs’ defense and their recent offensive woes, they won’t be able to hang with this Cleveland team.

The Cavs are averaging just 112.1 points per game this season but in their last four games played, they have scored at least 117 points three times, including 145 in their last game. In that game, Donovan Mitchell scored a career-high 71 points and looked unstoppable. Spida failed to hit the 20-point scoring mark three times in four games before that so he may be back in the groove.

With Phoenix in the bottom half of the league in opponents FG%, I expect the Cavs offense to get hot in this game and take advantage of Devin Booker’s absence.

Prediction: Cavaliers -5.5

Suns vs Cavaliers Over/Under Prediction

The total has gone over in four out of the last five games played between these two teams. The under is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings in Cleveland.

Phoenix Suns over/under odds:

• The over is 7-0 in the Suns’ last 7 road games versus a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
• The over is 5-1 in the Suns’ last 6 games against a team with a winning % above .600.
• The over is 9-2 in the Suns’ last 11 road games versus a team with a winning home record.
• The over is 4-1 in the Suns’ last 5 Wednesday games.
• The over is 4-1 in the Suns’ last 5 games playing on 1 day’s rest.
• The over is 11-4 in the Suns’ last 15 games when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 7-3 in the Suns’ last 10 games against a team with a winning straight-up record.
• The under is 34-16-1 in the Suns’ last 51 games following a straight-up loss
• The under is 5-1 in the Suns’ last 6 games following an ATS loss.

Cleveland Cavaliers over/under trends:

• The over is 4-0 in the Cavaliers’ last 4 games following an ATS win.
• The over is 4-0 in the Cavaliers’ last 4 games following a straight-up win.
• The over is 5-0 in the Cavaliers’ last 5 home games.
• The over is 6-1 in the Cavaliers’ last 7 overall.
• The over is 6-1 in the Cavaliers’ last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The over is 6-1 in the Cavaliers’ last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The over is 5-1 in the Cavaliers’ last 6 games playing on 1 day’s rest.
• The over is 4-1 in the Cavaliers’ last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 4-1 in the Cavaliers’ last 5 Wednesday games.
• The over is 4-1 in the Cavaliers’ last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
• The under is 5-2-1 in the Cavaliers’ last 8 vs. a team with a winning straight-up record.
• The under is 16-7 in the Cavaliers’ last 23 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.

The Cavaliers are coming off a 145-point scoring game and I expect them to carry the momentum on Wednesday night. However, the Suns will be without their top-scorer in Devin Booker, and missing Book’s 20-30 points per game scoring is such a big hit to the Suns. Add the fact that the Cavs have the league’s best scoring defense and it’s going to be a long night for the Suns.

This should be an interesting battle between two playoff-contending teams. However, the scoring in this game is compromised without Devin Booker. Without him, they can’t outscore the Cavs and the Suns’ best chance at winning this game is to slow it down and play defense.

Prediction: Under 221.5

Place Your Bets Now!