Brendan O’Sullivan dives into his pick and prediction for the Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks game on Tuesday.

A couple years ago, this matchup was a fierce rivalry. Devin Booker and Luka Doncic went head to head a number of times, giving fans exciting matchups in both the regular season and playoffs.

A lot has changed since, notably with Doncic being a member of the Lakers now. Cooper Flagg headlines the next era in Dallas, while Booker remains Phoenix’s leader.

These teams are on different tracks this season as the Mavericks are six games out of a play-in spot, while the Suns are the seventh seed and one game back from sixth.

Phoenix is an 8.5-point favorite and -340 on the moneyline, while Dallas is +270 on DraftKings Sportsbook. The over/under is set at 227.5 points.

Here’s a preview, prediction and pick for Tuesday’s Suns vs. Mavericks matchup.

Suns vs. Mavericks prediction, preview

The Mavericks’ season went from bad to worse in terms of the standings over the past week and change. The team was 19-26 following a victory against the Warriors on Jan. 22 before losing seven straight entering this matchup.

The one bright spot in this dreadful run is Flagg’s development. The rookie scored 49, 34, 36 and 32 in four straight games. Sure the team lost all of those, but performances like these are encouraging for a rebuilding team.

The past seven games have also been against some of the best teams lately. Dallas faced the Spurs twice, Lakers, Timberwolves, Rockets, Celtics, and Hornets (amid a nine-game win streak). Now, the Mavericks continue their road trip in Phoenix, who has lost two straight.

The Suns have battled injuries to Booker and Jalen Green all season, but when healthy, this team looks like a playoff squad. The group is 31-22, which is only 2.5 games back from the third seed. One strong push, and the Suns could find themselves with home-court advantage in the first round.

Suns vs. Mavericks pick, best bet

With Booker, Green and Dillon Brooks healthy for tonight’s game, it seems likely that the Suns break their two-game skid. They’ll extend the Mavericks’ losing streak to eight games, as the team plummets in the standings.

The spread is set at 8.5 points, which is doable for the Suns. The Mavericks would need a heroic effort from Flagg to stay in this game, and even with 30+ points, it’s not guaranteed that they cover.

Best bet: Phoenix Suns -8.5 (-105)