NBA Free Pick: Denver vs Phoenix

If you like high scoring fast paced basketball, well then boy do we have the game for you. The NBA’s two best offensive teams will square off in Monday night’s betting odds, when the Denver Nuggets visit the Phoenix Suns.

Denver Nuggets (39-20 SU, 27-29-3 ATS) at Phoenix Suns (37-24, 34-26-1 ATS)

Monday, March 01: 9:00 p.m.
NBA Basketball Odds: Phoenix -2.5

Here are some NBA Betting Trends which may impact this game:

• Denver: 4-2-1 ATS in their last 7 road games
• Denver: Total has gone OVER in 4 of their last 5 games
• Phoenix: 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games
• Phoenix: 5-1 SU in their last 6 home games

Both teams are coming off disappointing losses Sunday afternoon. For Phoenix, there’s was to a struggling Spurs team, as they fell by three on the road. However, despite the loss, it was hard to blame power forward Amare Stoudemire, who had his best game of the season. The All-Star power forward was sensational, scoring 41 points and adding 12 rebounds. And of course, as usual, point guard Steve Nash was again phenomenal as well, scoring 18 points and handing out 11 assists.

As is always the case with Phoenix though, the defense struggled to make stops, as the Spurs shot over 50 percent from the field Sunday afternoon. And on the season, the Suns are one of the NBA’s worst units overall. They allow an average of 106 points per game, which is the second highest total in the league behind only the Warriors. That’ll need to be much better Monday night, if they’re to beat Denver.

Speaking of Denver, they are coming off a tough loss of their own Sunday, in Los Angeles. In that game, the Nuggets controlled the first half of basketball, cruising to a nine point halftime lead. However, they scored just 37 points total in the second half, and fell on the road to the Lakers.

If the Nuggets are to beat Phoenix Monday night, they’ll need a much better effort from their best player, Carmelo Anthony. Anthony is one of the league’s brightest stars, and is averaging just under 28 points a game. But he scored just 21 Sunday, and fouled out in crunch time, leaving Denver without their best player during the game’s biggest moments.

However, don’t let the score from Sunday fool you, the Nuggets are still the second highest scoring team in the NBA, behind on Phoenix. And unlike Phoenix, this team actually plays defense, as they allow just over 102 points a game, and opponents to shoot just 46 percent from the field. Even against the Lakers on Sunday, it was more Los Angeles’ defense that won the game than their offense.

And it’s the difference in these teams defensively, that will likely be the biggest difference on Monday. The Nuggets simply guard better, and are tougher around the basket, with three physical forwards in Kenyon Martin, Nene and Chris Anderson. Those big guys should keep Phoenix’s Stoudemire in check, and allow Denver to cover the betting odds.

With the NBA season winding down, the games are only getting more exciting, and Monday night is no exception. Just make sure that when you’re watching this one, you’ve got money on the underdog.