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The Phoenix Suns will take on the Denver Nuggets in a battle of premier Western Conference powers. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Suns-Nuggets prediction and pick.
This game is a potential preview of a postseason matchup. The Suns have been the best team in the NBA all year long, earning a 59-14 record while keeping a stranglehold on the first seed in the west. Phoenix will almost certainly enter the playoffs as the top seed in the conference, a position that the Nuggets have to be envious of. Denver is currently 43-30, which is good for the sixth seed. They could climb to the fifth seed or fall to the seventh, so every game is hugely important for the Nuggets. A win against the best team in the NBA could be exactly what the Nuggets need to push themselves up the standings as the year comes to a close.
Here are the Suns-Nuggets NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Suns-Nuggets Odds
Phoenix Suns: +1 (-112)
Denver Nuggets: -1 (-108)
Over: 233.5 (-110)
Under: 233.5 (-110)
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Why The Suns Could Cover The Spread
The Suns have been elite on both ends of the floor, but their offense is what will likely take over in this game. Phoenix scores a whopping 115 points per game while sporting some of the best offensive statistics in the NBA. The Suns rank inside the top five in the league in effective field goal percentage, field goal percentage, shooting efficiency, and field goals made per game. They've been nearly unstoppable all season, and now they face a mediocre Denver defense. The Nuggets allow 109 points per game, but they also allow their opponents to shoot nearly 47% from the field. This should be another good game for Phoenix's offense.
Phoenix is getting a key player back just in time for this game. Star point guard Chris Paul, who missed the last fifteen games, is probable to make his return in this one. The Suns went 11-4 without Paul, but they dropped games to the New Orleans Pelicans and the Toronto Raptors. Paul's return gives Phoenix another elite defender with Hall of Fame-caliber court vision. The Nuggets aren't particularly strong at guard, so Paul's presence makes this an even better matchup for the Suns.
Why The Nuggets Could Cover The Spread
While the Suns have been elite on defense, the Nuggets are one of the few teams that may be able to put up numbers on them. Star center Nikola Jokic has led the Denver offense to some of the best shooting percentages in the league, including 57% from two-point range. The Nuggets are also one of the most efficient teams in the league in terms of shooting. It's very possible that Denver's offense keeps them in this game.
These teams have already played twice, with each squad taking home a victory. The difference is that Denver's win came against a full strength Suns team, while the Suns win came against a Denver team that was playing without Jokic. Both games took place in Phoenix, giving the Suns the advantage of their home court. Now they'll play in Denver against a fully healthy Nuggets team. Head coach Michael Malone's team has been slightly better at home than they have been on the road, so Ball Arena could provide them with the boost they need to win.
Final Suns-Nuggets Prediction & Pick
There's no locks in sports betting, but this game is as close as you can get. The Suns should be the favorite here, so hammering them to cover is a great idea. Lock in Phoenix with a ton of confidence here.
Final Suns-Nuggets Pick: Phoenix Suns: +1 (-112)
