Phoenix Suns vs Denver Nuggets betting tips and predictions for Thursday’s NBA game on TNT. Phoenix hopes to tie the regular season series against Denver as the two teams square off for the 4th and final time this season. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Phoenix Suns
This might be the biggest test the newly looked Phoenix Suns will be facing ever since they acquired Kevin Durant. With KD in the line-up this team is yet to lose a game, they are on a 6-game win streak and things are looking promising as we head towards the postseason. With the Suns ranking 4th and Denver 1st in the West, this could very well be a Western Conference semi-final preview.
Durant and co. have dominated on both ends winning their last 5 home games and covering the spread in 5 of their last 6 outings overall. They are also an encouraging 4-1 SU in 5 home games vs Denver, plus have covered the spread in 4 of 5 vs West teams. There are no injuries to report for the first time in a long while for head coach Monty Williams, which is why the Suns are 4.5 point favorites tonight.
Denver Nuggets
Denver has beaten Phoenix only 3 times in the last 10 meetings, and coming into tonight’s game they’ve got just 1 win in their last 4 games. The two teams actually met less than a week ago in Phoenix and the Suns came out on top in a low scoring game. Nikola Jokic didn’t play in that game, he returned to the line-up on Tuesday but the Nuggets were embarrassed by the Houston Rockets 124-103 on the road.
Jamal Murray left the game with a thumb injury, his status is up in the air for tonight’s game. Denver does lead the regular season series 2-1, but both of their wins came at Ball Arena, they are a completely different team on the road than at home this season.
It’s hard to ignore what Durant’s acquisition has done to the Suns. They’ve now transformed into the number one title contender and I think we’ll see why in tonight’s game. Denver most likely won’t be at full strength, they’ve struggled a lot offensively lately. Take Phoenix.
Phoenix Suns vs Denver Nuggets Predictions & Odds
Believe it or not, the most impressive part of the Suns since Durant has arrived has been their defense. Their last 4 of 5 opponents have scored just 94, 93, 100 and 103 points and one of those teams was Denver. With Jokic back in the line-up they should be better than that in tonight’s game, but I still have faith in the Suns defense to keep the Nuggets in check here.
The under has cashed in 4 of 5 for the Suns and in the last 5 straight for Denver on the road. Phoenix ranks 6th in defensive efficiency this season allowing 109.9 points per 100 possessions, while Denver has now dropped only to 4th in offensive efficiency after their recent struggles. Denver has scored only 103, 93 and 88 points in 3 of their last 4 games, I am just not feeling their offense right now, so let’s take our chances with the under here.
