We get a hell of a matchup to close out the NBA odds on Friday night as a pair of Western Conference contenders face off. Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns will play host to Nikola Jokic and the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets.
KD and the Suns are looking to start a new winning streak after seeing their seven-gamer come to an end in Toronto on Wednesday. However, it won't be easy going up against a Nuggets team that has Jamal Murray back and is coming off an offensive explosion against Houston.
I break down this Western Conference clash and bring you the best bet in my NBA picks and predictions for Nuggets vs. Suns.
Nuggets vs Suns odds
Nuggets vs Suns predictions
The Denver Nuggets started their title defense on fire, winning eight of their first nine games. However, a Jamal Murray hamstring injury set the team back a bit and Denver went just 6-5 without their Robin to Nikola Jokic’s Batman.
When Murray returned this past Wednesday, the star point guard made an immediate impact as the Nuggets topped the Rockets 134-124.
On the other side, the Phoenix Suns have had the opposite start. Following a slow start due to both injuries and a lack of chemistry, Phoenix found its groove by winning seven in a row before seeing their streak snapped in Toronto earlier this week.
This is a rematch from last season's playoffs matchup, which the Nuggets ultimately won in six games. The Suns had no answer for Jokic (not that anyone does), and Denver forced the Suns to rethink their roster this offseason. That said, I’m not sure Jusuf Nurkic is the answer defensively...
Unfortunately, tonight’s matchup might not have the same shine as a potential postseason meeting due to the current injuries to both Bradley Beal and Devin Booker. That could make life difficult for Kevin Durant & Co. when they face a Nuggets team that is 7-1 with a +9.9 margin of victory when Murray is in the lineup.
Ultimately, the injuries the Suns are dealing with will also expose their depth issues in this one. I’ll lay the points with the Nuggets as road chalk tonight.
My best bet: Nuggets -3 (-106 at FanDuel)
Nuggets vs Suns same-game parlay
Nuggets -3
Susn team total Under 110.5
Nurkic Over 8.5 rebounds
As always, our same-game parlay tips off with my best bet.
Booker has been playing at an MVP level this season, helping the Suns score 116.4 points per game. With their star shooting guard sidelined this evening, I’m not sure Phoenix gets close to that figure.
And let’s close this SGP out with Nurkic to eclipse 8.5 rebounds. Nurkic is averaging 9.3 rebounds per game and the matchup against Jokic should mean more minutes and battles for boards. He’s gone Over this number in five of his last six games.
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Nuggets vs Suns spread and Over/Under analysis
With no Devin Booker for the Suns tonight, the Nuggets opened this Western Conference matchup as 3-point road favorites and that’s where it remains as of Friday afternoon. Jokic has proven to be a particularly tough matchup for Phoenix over the years and he should take advantage of the shorthanded Suns tonight.
When it comes to the total, it hit the board at 224.5 and has been bet down slightly to 224. I would lean toward the Under here as it will be hard to know what we will get out of this Suns roster sans Booker and Beal.
This is also a matchup of teams who play at some of the slowest tempos in the NBA, as Denver and Phoenix rank 26th and 27th, respectively, when it comes to pace. Mix that in with the two notable injuries for the Suns, and the Under looks like the right play here.
Nuggets vs Suns betting trend to know
The Nuggets have covered the spread in seven of the last nine meetings vs. the Suns. Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Suns.
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Nuggets vs Suns game info
| Location: | Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ |
| Date: | Friday, December 1, 2023 |
| Tip-off: | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN |
Nuggets vs Suns latest injuries
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