The Phoenix Suns will host the star-studded Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night, only the Nets won't be so star-studded. We already knew Kevin Durant was going to be out, but the Nets just announced that Kyrie Irving won't play because of a back injury. With this in mind, it's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Nets-Suns prediction and pick.

The host Suns are on a six-game winning streak to get to 17-9 on the season. They're also 17-9 overall against the spread and 10-4 at home, according to The Action Network.

The Nets are winners of three in a row to sit at 17-12 on the season, but they're just 13-16 against the spread overall and 5-8 on the road. Of course, the absences and KD And Kyrie will loom large in this one.

Here's a look at the odds.

NBA Odds: Nets-Suns Odds

Brooklyn Nets +7 (-108)

Phoenix Suns -7 (-112)

Over 227 Points (-105)

Under 227 Points (-115)

Why The Nets Could Cover The Spread

The Nets were already a slight underdog to open, but Kyrie Irving joining Kevin Durant on the pine moved the line in a big way. Even without Durant and Irving, James Harden is still there and playing great basketball, so the Nets remain dangerous even while shorthanded.

Harden has taken on more of a distributor role playing alongside his star teammates, but he'll have to shift back into more of a Houston Rockets James Harden mode for this game. That could mean a dip in his overall efficiency, which has been outstanding since his move to Brooklyn, but Harden is used to putting up big performances as the central star of the offense.

Harden will need his teammates to step up offensively, especially Joe Harris. The sharpshooter is knocking down nearly 50% of his 3-pointers this season, and he could get even more opportunities with two superstars sidelined.

The Nets' defense is known to be problematic, but it will be interesting to see if Andre Roberson actually makes his debut with the team after his recent signing. A healthy Roberson could make life difficult on Chris Paul and Devin Booker, even if it's in a very limited time on the court. Brooklyn can use all the help it can get on that end of the floor.

Why The Suns Could Cover The Spread

With the Suns on fire and the Nets shorthanded on the second of a back-to-back, it's only natural to assume Phoenix will not only win but cover, even with the line on the rise. Chris Paul and Devin Booker are really finding a groove together, with the 24-year-old shooting guard catching fire in February and earning his first-ever Western Conference Player of the Week honor.

Booker is averaging 27.4 points, 4.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 52.6% overall and 40.9% on 3-pointers this month. Even if Roberson is able to play a little, the Nets are going to have a hard time slowing down Booker and CP3. Led by this dynamic backcourt, Phoenix boasts an offensive rating over 116 in February.

Also, don't discount the recent return of Cameron Payne to help run their bench unit. While Payne looked to be on his way out of the NBA after a brutal start to his career, he has found his niche in Phoenix and is working to find a rhythm again after missing nearly three weeks.

The Suns are fully healthy and on a roll, so they'll be looking to build on their success.

Final Nets-Suns Prediction & Pick

It's a bummer that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving won't be playing in this game, because this was supposed to be a heavyweight bout between two of the best teams in the NBA. James Harden will do his best to keep the Nets competitive, but it's just not going to be enough against a well-rounded Suns team. That seven-point line is a bit daunting, but with Brooklyn on the second of a back-to-back, Phoenix should be able to cover. At the very least, you should feel good about the Suns ML.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION FOR NETS-SUNS: PHX 120, BKN 110 (PHX -7)