Phoenix Suns at New Orleans Hornets Betting Preview

Opening Line: Suns -1 / Hornets +1 O/U

Time: 8 PM EST Monday February 1, 2010 on NBA TV

Tonight in the Big Easy the New Orleans Hornets host the Phoenix Suns. The Hornets have been playing well recently, as they are 6-4 in their last 10 games, are coming off a win, and are currently in 3rd place in the Southwest Division 4 games back of the Dallas Mavericks. Even though the Suns have won 2 games in a row they are only 4-6 in their last 10 games and are 5 games below .500 on the road this season.

This season the Hornets are 16-5 at home and 23-24 ATS and the Suns are 10-15 on the road and 23-24-1 ATS.

In their last games the Suns beat the Memphis Grizzlies 109-102 on Saturday and the Hornets beat the Houston Rockets 115-111 yesterday.

The big news for the Hornets is that All Star PG Chris Paul may miss up to 2 months, as he may have to have knee surgery. With their best player out rookie PG Darren Collison (6.8 ppg 3.2 assists per game) will have to man the ship and he has done a good job with Paul sidelined.

The Hornets have a new lineup now, as Paul is not only out, but they traded away Devin Brown and rookie SG Marcus Thornton (10.2 ppg) is now the starter and has averaged 17.8 points since being in the starting lineup.

Collison has the task of slowing down the Suns, who are the highest scoring team in the league (109.9 ppg). He has to stay on Suns' PG Steve Nash (18.3 ppg), who is 2nd in the league in assists per game.

The Suns won last night on the road for their first win away from the valley of the desert since January 5th.

Amare Stoudemire (20.9 ppg 8.3 rpg) has played great against New Orleans averaging 27 ppg 7.7 rpg in his last 3 games against the Hornets.

The Suns are not a good defensive team to say the least, as they rank 2nd to last in points allowed (107.9 ppg). They will have to play good perimeter D tonight and now allow Collison, Thornton, and Peja Stojakovic (11.7 ppg) have open looks from deep. Stojakovic has averaged 22.3 ppg on 55.2% shooting in the last 3 games against the Suns in New Orleans.

Phoenix has lost 4 of their last 5 games in New Orleans.

Phoenix is 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 0 days rest, and have an Over record of 4-0 in their last 4 games overall and on the road. New Orleans is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games, and have an Over record if 5-0 in their last 5 games. Phoenix is 2-9 in their last 11 games against New Orleans and the total has gone Under in 6 of the last 8 games between these 2 teams in New Orleans.


Future Betting Odds

NBA Handicapping

Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat Odds 6-12
The Mavs are up 3-2 in this series heading to South Beach and for the Heat to force Game 7 they will have to play better in the 4th quarter, especially LeBron James. 5Dimes has the hometown Heat as 5-point favorites in Game 6 with a total of 187.

NBA Toolbox

Sportsbooks