Golden State Warriors at Phoenix Suns
Monday, 1/2/12, 3:30 PM EST, TV: FSAZ
Opening Point Spread: Phoenix -4
Current Betting Line: Phoenix -3.5
Opening Total: 192
Current Total: 194
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Golden State has split its first four games and will now travel on the road for the first time, going ‘under’ the total in all four contests. The Warriors will be looking to snap a 12-game losing streak on the road in this particular series. It’s uncertain if star guard Monta Ellis will play in this game after leaving the team to attend his grandmother’s funeral in Mississippi Saturday. He’s currently listed a probable. Golden State suffered a 107-79 blowout loss without his services against Philadelphia. Over the last two-plus seasons, the team is 9-9 ATS as a road underdog of 3.5 to 6 points.
The Warriors are hoping to be a better road team this year, posting a 10-31 mark away from the Oracle Center during the 2010-11 season. Golden State hasn’t had much success when playing its first game of a new year, dropping 12 of its last 13 games in that situation. Ellis averages a team-high 21.0 points, but has been shutdown by Phoenix historically, scoring 14.3 points on 37.9 percent shooting in 10 career games in the desert.
Phoenix is 1-3 in its first four games and comes home after splitting a two-game road trip against the New Orleans Hornets and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Suns have gone below the total in three of four games. Head coach Alvin Gentry is hoping its squad will avoid dropping its first three home games for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign. The defense has definitely shown improvement from year’s past, allowing just 93.3 points per game. Phoenix is 13-10 ATS as a home favorite of 3.5 to 6 points the last two-plus seasons.
The Suns have always enjoyed great success in this particular series, especially in sweeping the Warriors in four regular-season games a year ago, shooting 48.5 percent from the field and scoring 107.8 points per game. Scoring averages are down across the board for this roster, as veteran point guard Steve Nash is averaging just 8.3 points per game, while center Channing Frye is scoring eight points less per game than a year ago.
Bettors will likely back the Suns due to their 6-2-1 ATS mark when serving as host in this series, while the Warriors are 2-8 ATS when playing on the road.
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