Denver Nuggets (51-24) vs. Phoenix Suns (41-35)
March 31, 2023 10:30 pm EDT
The Line: Phoenix Suns -8.5; Over/Under: +226.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Denver Nuggets pay a visit to the Phoenix Suns at the Footprint Center on Friday night.
The Denver Nuggets have been in fine form as they’ve won five of their last seven games overall, but they will be looking to bounce back in this one after getting routed by the Pelicans in a disappointing 107-88 loss last night. Jamal Murray led the way with 21 points and seven assists, Bruce Brown added 19 points off the bench while Aaron Gordon chipped in with 11 points. As a team, the Nuggets shot just 40 percent from the field and four of 28 from the 3-point line as they struggled to find their offense without Nikola Jokic and scored just 17 points in the first quarter to fall behind early, before they managed just 18 points in the fourth quarter to get blown out. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had a rough night as he scored just five points on one of seven shooting.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns look to have moved on from their mini slump as they are now gunning for a fourth straight victory after beating the Timberwolves in a 107-100 win on Wednesday. Devin Booker led the team with 29 points, five assists and four steals, Kevin Durant added 16 points with eight rebounds and four assists while Chris Paul chipped in with 19 points and six assists. As a team, the Suns shot just 41 percent from the field and six of 20 from the 3-point line as they went back and forth with the Timberwolves in a close contest, until the third quarter where they poured in 33 points to gain some separation and escape with the narrow win in the end.
Looking at the betting trends, the Nuggets are 18-8 ATS in their last 26 games against a team with a winning record and 0-4 ATS in their last four games overall. The Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against a team above .600 and 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
Head to head, the over is 10-3 in the last 13 meetings in Phoenix and the Nuggets are 2-7 ATS in the last nine meetings overall.
The Nuggets will again be missing Nikola Jokic, while the Suns don’t have a single player listed on the injury report. The Nuggets are still capable of pulling off the upset, but I don’t like their chances without Jokic, so I’m going to stick with the Suns to get their fourth straight win in this one. The Nuggets are 2-7 ATS in the last nine meetings overall and I think that trend continues here as the Suns get the cover.
