Denver Nuggets (51-28) vs. Phoenix Suns (56-23)
June 9, 2021 9:30 pm EDT
The Line: Phoenix Suns -6; Over/Under: -221.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Denver Nuggets look to square up the series against the Phoenix Suns in Game 2 of the NBA Conference Semifinals at the PHX Arena on Wednesday, June 9th. Phoenix leads the series 1-0.
The Denver Nuggets were beaming with confidence after making light work of the Trailblazers in the first round, but they’re suddenly trailing in this series after losing to the Suns by 122-105 in Game 1 on Monday. Nikola Jokic led the team with 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and three blocks, Aaron Gordon added 18 points with three steals, Michael Porter Jr. scored 15 points while Frank Campazzo chipped in with 14 points and six assists. As a team, the Nugget shot 46 percent from the field and 14 of 40 from the 3-point line as they got off to a solid start to take the lead into halftime, but they couldn’t keep up the pace in the second half where the Suns went on a 39-12 run. Monte Morris had a night to forget as he scored just two points on one of 10 shooting off the bench.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns cruised past the injured Lakers in the first round, before kicking this series off with a dominant win over the Nuggets in Game 1. Mikal Bridges led the team with 23 points and five assists, Chris Paul added 21 points with 11 assists, Devin Booker scored 21 points with eight assists on eight of 12 shooting while DeAndre Ayton chipped in with 20 points and 10 rebounds while playing great defense on the Nuggets’ Jokic. As a team, the Suns shot a healthy 54 percent from the field and 13 of 34 from the 3-point line as they kept pace with the Nuggets in a tightly contested first half, before winning comfortably in the second half where they exploded for 65 points.
Looking at the betting trends, the Nuggets are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games as an underdog. 4-1 ATS in their last five games against a team with a winning record and 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall. The Suns are 6-2 ATS in their last eight home games, 38-14-1 ATS in their last 53 games against a team with a winning record and 4-0 ATS in their last four games overall.
Head to head, the over is 6-1 in the last seven meetings overall, the Nuggets are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings in Phoenix and the Nuggets are 14-6 ATS in the last 20 meetings overall.
Jokic was simply unstoppable in the first round against the Trailblazers, but he wasn’t nearly as effective in Game 1 against the Suns and a lot of credit has to go to DeAndre Ayton who has been terrific in these playoffs. Gordon has looked good so far, but the Nuggets will need more from him to get past the Suns who really rode the energy of the home crowd on Monday. I don’t think this game will end in a blowout, but I do think the Suns take a 2-0 series lead with another win and cover here.
