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Suns vs Nuggets Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds, Picks & Predictions

Phoenix Continues to Defy Odds

Suns Show No Signs of Slowing Down

The Phoenix Suns travel to Ball Arena to face the Denver Nuggets on the second night of a back-to-back.

Despite already securing a division title, sitting nine games clear for the top spot in the Western Conference, and being short-handed almost every other night, the Suns simply continue to find ways to get the job done.

Suns vs Nuggets Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds, Picks & Predictions
Suns vs Nuggets Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds, Picks & Predictions

The Nuggets though pose an entirely different challenge and the home team is in far greater need of securing a win in this one.

Let’s take a look at the latest news, stats, injury updates and NBA betting odds for Suns vs Nuggets.

Juggernaut Rolling Along

Nothing seems to faze this Phoenix Suns team, and you can be sure that the idea of playing in a bad spot in altitude against a desperate Denver team isn’t cause for concern.

Devin Booker found another level against the Minnesota Timberwolves as he helped overcome a double-digit halftime deficit on the road against one of the hottest teams in the NBA.

He wasn’t alone, either. In true Suns fashion, the attack was well-balanced as they got a career-high 35 points from Deandre Ayton and an important 10-point-fourth quarter contribution from Landry Shamet, who finished the game with 19 points.

Since Chris Paul went down with a broken thumb, the Suns have gone 11-4 as they continue their stranglehold on the top seed in the West. They’re also currently riding a six-game win streak where they’ve gone 5-1 against the spread (ATS) to match.

Turning up in this game seems a formality for this squad as well. The Suns are a league-best 9-3 (75 percent) straight up when playing on no rest.

The team is likely to again be with Cam Johnson and it’ll be interesting to see whether coach Monty Williams bites on the temptation to start resting some of his guys in the final weeks of the regular season.

They need just one win – or one Memphis loss – to officially secure home-court throughout the playoffs.

Jokic Carrying Nuggets to Playoffs

There’s still a lot of basketball to be played for the Denver Nuggets. They can still realistically secure a top-four seed in the West, but they’re also just as likely to fall back into the play-in spots.

One man who has even more on the line is reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, who has a chance of making it back-to-back years as the league’s top player. For the record, this NBA betting expert is strongly of the belief that Jokic is the undeniable MVP this season.

Denver got a much needed bounce-back win last time out against the Los Angeles Clippers and will look to secure a couple more wins to round off this current four-game home stand.

Despite owning one of the toughest home courts in the NBA, the Nuggets are 14-21 (40 percent) ATS at home this season – that’s 27th in the league for home cover rate on the season.

Those inconsistencies have been a thorn in their side all season. Despite the incredible play of their Serbian superstar, the team has struggled to get reliable effort from other pieces on a nightly basis.

That said, this really should be a night where everyone on the roster should be completely engaged, given the opportunity to try and get one back on a team that swept them out of the playoffs last season.

The Nuggets have also been constantly hindered by injuries in the worst possible way, however. Aside from long-term absentees Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., the team is about as healthy as they have been all season heading into the final stretch of games.

Suns vs Nuggets Head-to-Head

These teams have split their two meetings this season, also splitting the ATS results to match.

The Suns were 126-97 winners in their most recent meeting in November while the Nuggets won the season opener 110-98.

As mentioned above, the Suns were 4-0 series winners in the second round of the playoffs last season and also won the lone regular-season meeting in Denver 106-103.

Suns vs Nuggets Head-to-Head Game Information

Suns vs Nuggets Head-to-Head Betting Lines

Suns vs Nuggets Head-to-Head Prediction

The Denver Nuggets undoubtedly have more to play for here. They’re the more motivated squad at this point, the better rested team and, somewhat surprisingly, the healthier team.

Jokic is a complete mismatch on any given night in the NBA, but against a tired Ayton, it should be a night where he’s able to get to his spot and really dictate things offensively.

This game really is a tough schedule spot for Phoenix. Not only is it the second of a back-to-back, it also concludes a three-game road trip that started with an OT win at Sacramento.

At some point, this team is going to let up and begin turning its full attention toward the playoffs. Given the disparity in importance for this game, I don’t see how we don’t get that happening here in Denver.

I agree with the sportsbook valuation of this game at an opening line of -4, but when you couple that number with these other factors, I think fair price should probably be a touch higher than that.

Assuming there are no outs for the Suns, I’d be happy to lay up to -4.0 on the Nuggets in this spot. If Phoenix does decide to rest guys, there’s a fair argument to be made that laying anything within reason is a worthwhile look for a team that will still be playing with a chip on their shoulder after last season’s playoff exit.

Pick: Denver Nuggets -4

Suns vs Nugget Playoff Picture Week 24
Suns vs Nugget Playoff Picture Week 24

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