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The Phoenix Suns will be seeking to even their regular-season series against the Brooklyn Nets, who beat them in the initial meeting back in February. With that said, it’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Suns-Nets prediction and pick. The Suns are one of the best teams against the spread this season (36-22-1), while the Nets have done relatively well of late in that regard, having covered the spread in six of their last 10 games.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Suns-Nets odds.
NBA Odds: Suns vs. Nets Odds
Phoenix Suns +1.5 (-104)
Brooklyn Nets -1.5 (-116)
Over 232.5 Points (-110)
Under 232.5 Points (-110)
Why The Suns Could Cover The Spread
After scoring back-to-back wins over the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers, the Suns fell prey to the Boston Celtics on the road last Thursday, 99-86. One of the things you need to know about these Chris Paul-infused Suns is that they have rarely lost in consecutive fashion this season. In fact, they haven't suffered two losses in a row since January, when they went on a three-game losing skid. That's the only time so far this season that Phoenix has lost games in succession.
This is a resilient Suns team that doesn't just win games often after a loss but covers the spread at a high percentage in such scenarios as well. The Suns are 13-3 against the spread this season in games after a loss — that's a high 81.2% success rate, the best in the NBA so far by a wide margin. As for their play on the court, the Suns' offense will be a huge threat to Brooklyn's defense that's just 26th in the NBA in adjusted defensive rating.
The Suns are averaging 114.2 points per game and 1.177 points per possession, which are 10th and fourth in the league, respectively. Conversely, the Nets are 22nd with a defense that allows 114.2 points per contest.
Why The Nets Could Cover The Spread
The Nets have been alternating wins and losses over their past several games. They have neither won nor lost back to back over their last eight contests, going 4-4 over that stretch. The last time they were on the court, the Nets took down the Boston Celtics at home on Friday, 109-104.
If the Nets are to break that trend and win two in a row for the first time in a while, now seems to be the ideal time for that to happen. For one, the Nets are about to get Kevin Durant back. Durant has missed the past three games with a left leg issue but is reportedly planning to play against the Suns, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. It's not that the Nets can't beat Phoenix without Durant, but having the former MVP back in the fold surely adds a scary weapon to the Nets' offense that can easily compensate for their defensive weakness with a scoring onslaught that Brooklyn is very much capable of pulling off on any given name.
After all, the Nets are No. 2 in the NBA with an average of 118.6 points per game and tops with a 49.3 FG%. The Nets didn't even need Kyrie Irving and Durant to beat the Suns on the road last February, 128-124, as James Harden led the team with 38 points and 11 assists. Harden is the one sidelined this time around, but with Irving and Durant on the floor, the offense is certainly going to be fine for Brooklyn.
Final Suns vs. Nets Prediction & Pick
As mentioned earlier, the Suns are tough to beat when they lost the previous game. It would take a special team to do that, which is exactly what the Nets are with Durant and Irving on the floor. The Suns' defense will make things a bit harder for the Nets, but the latter would find a way to win and cover.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION & PICK FOR SUNS-NETS: BRK 120, PHX 117 (BRK -1.5)
