Denver Nuggets Betting Preview: Time to Lock In
For the Denver Nuggets, the offense was not the problem throughout game one, as they operated efficiently for much of the first three-quarters of the game. Instead, it was the defense of the Nuggets that let them down, as the Suns were able to put up 65 points in the second half en route to a double-digit victory. In this game, the Nuggets will have to play solid defense for four quarters to avoid an 0-2 hole in this series.
Denver will also need more from Nikola Jokic if they are going to see a different result than they did in the first game of this series. The just-announced league MVP contributed just 22 points in Game 1, getting outscored by Mikal Bridges of the Suns. Jokic has to play more like the MVP that he has been for the duration of this season if the Nuggets are going to even things up.
Phoenix Suns Betting Preview: Endless Options?
The Phoenix Suns were extremely impressive in Game 1, pulling away in the second half to dominate the league’s MVP and the rest of the Nuggets. And a big reason for that was their balance, as all five starters scored in double figures with nobody scoring more than 23 points. That kind of balanced attack is difficult to defend, especially when the Suns make 13 threes as they did in the series opener.
For Phoenix, the scary part is that they are capable of playing even better on the offensive end of the floor. Devin Booker only scored 21 points and is capable of so much more if he chooses to shoot the ball more frequently. How the Suns attack the Nuggets in Game 2 will be interesting, as they should aim for the exact same offensive approach that got them the victory to open the series.
Also deserving of credit for the Suns was DeAndre Ayton, who matched Nikola Jokic’s production almost identically in Game 1. Ayton has arguably been the most valuable player for the Suns this postseason, shooting close to 80% from the field through the team’s first seven playoff games. If he can match the production of Jokic again tonight, the Suns could cruise to a 2-0 lead.
Nuggets and Suns Odds and Lines
DraftKings Sportsbook has the Phoenix Suns as a 6-point favorite against the Denver Nuggets heading into this matchup.
Free Play of the Night
This is a spot where the Suns’ role players should come back down to Earth a bit, while the Nuggets should get more from Nikola Jokic. The extra two points added to the line from Game 1 is enough to justify taking the points with the Denver Nuggets here.