The Denver Nuggets look to advance to the Western Conference finals when they take on the host Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of their semifinal series on Thursday night. Denver moved a win away from advancing with a Game 5 victory at home, giving the home team a perfect 5-0 record in this series.
Phoenix has been a different team playing at home in this series, and it will need its stars to play at a high level to keep this series going. This is probably the most high-powered matchup on the NBA schedule, so to help you with your Nuggets vs Suns betting, check out our preview of the contest.
Nuggets vs. Suns odds
Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns Information
Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns
Location of the game: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Date & Time: Thursday, May 11, 2023, 10:00 PM ET
How to watch: ESPN
Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns Recent Scores
This is one of the rare NBA matchups where the homecourt advantage seems to mean everything between these two teams. Including the regular season, the home team is undefeated in nine contests between these two teams in 2022-23, so it will be interesting to see if the Nuggets can break that string with a win.
Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns Betting Analysis
Nuggets Defense Must Show Up
Clearly, the Denver Nuggets odds at a victory rely on their defense. In two road losses in this series, Denver has allowed 125.0 points per game, while in the three home wins, the Nuggets are giving up just 98.6 points per contest.
Center Nikola Jokic has been outstanding throughout this series, notching double-doubles in all five games as well as two triple-doubles. Jokic had 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists in Tuesday’s Game 5 victory, and if Denver is going to get the win, the two-time league MVP will be leading the way.
Guard Jamal Murray has also been solid on the offensive end, but the Nuggets got a big lift from Bruce Brown (25 points) and Michael Porter Jr. (19 points, five 3-pointers) in the Game 5 win. If Denver doesn’t have to solely rely on Murray and Jokic for much of the offense, it will have a chance to advance.
Suns’ Stars Need Support
Yet again, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker led the offensive charge in Game 5 for Phoenix, combining for 54 of the team’s 102 points. The supporting cast must step up in this game if the Suns are going to keep their season alive.
Making your Phoenix Suns picks is certainly treacherous as you try to determine who, if anyone, will step up to help Durant and Booker. Deandre Ayton was the only other double-digit scorer in Game 5, finishing with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Durant and Booker will certainly be aggressive looking for their own shots, but they’re both willing passers as well, so players like Landry Shamet, T.J. Warren and Terrrence Ross have to be ready when they get open looks.
Updates
A couple of possible influences for your Nuggets vs Suns betting decisions have to do with the health of the Suns. Veteran point guard Chris Paul will again be sidelined for Game 6 with a groin injury that has kept him out since the second game of the series. Adding to those injury woes is the news that Ayton is a game-time decision for Game 6, as he’s dealing with a rib contusion.
Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns Betting Preview
Looking at the NBA odds today, Phoenix is favored at home, giving 2½ points on a point-spread wager. You’ll get -110 odds on either team you take on that bet.
If your NBA picks today include a moneyline wager, you can get Phoenix at -140, while Denver is listed at +120. The over/under is set at 226 points, with -110 odds on both sides of that wager.
Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns Betting Prediction
This game has multiple players at the upper levels of NBA player stats in scoring, so this should be a very entertaining contest yet again. Still, the Suns may be running out of gas, especially if Ayton can’t go, so we like the visitors to come out on top in this one. When you’re doing your Nuggets vs Suns betting, take Denver to close it out and advance to the Western Conference finals.
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