Next up on our NBA schedule of free picks and predictions is a monster matchup in the Western Conference between the Denver Nuggets (51-25, 19-18 Away) and Phoenix Suns (41-35, 25-12 Home) on Friday night.
Tip-off from Footprint Center in Phoenix is scheduled for 10:30 pm EST in the latest game on the slate and can be seen nationally on NBA TV.
This is the third of four regular-season NBA matchups between these two Western powers. Denver has taken the first two, and the Nuggets will travel to Phoenix once more next Thursday.
This has the potential to be a second-round matchup in the playoffs, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out. Continue reading for our free Nuggets vs Suns picks.
Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns Odds
According to the NBA odds today, the Suns are favored by 8.5 with an over/under of 227 points.
Phoenix is -355 on the moneyline, while Denver is a +278 underdog (These are the odds at publishing time and are subject to change with the release of the active/inactive list).
Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns Matchup Information
Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns
Location of the Game: Footprint Center. Phoenix, AZ.
Date and Time: Friday, March 31, 2023 – 10:30 pm ET.
How to Watch: NBA TV
Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns Betting Preview
Denver Nuggets Preview
The Denver Nuggets odds of winning this game are so high because they could be without their top two players, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Jokic sat out Thursday night’s loss to New Orleans Pelicans and Nuggets’ coach Mike Malone hinted that Murray could rest Friday after logging 36 minutes against the Pelicans.
Nikola Jokic has been dealing with calf tightness, an issue that bothered him Monday against the Sixers, a game in which Joel Embiid did not play in what many hoped would have been the final showcase of the top two MVP candidates. Jokic, of course, leads Denver in scoring, rebounding, and assists when checking NBA player stats, and is on a quest to become a back-to-back-to-back MVP award winner.
Phoenix Suns Preview
Phoenix Suns games are an attraction again as the team appears to be at full strength for the final week plus of the regular season. Kevin Durant returned from his freak pre-game ankle injury to play in front of Phoenix fans for the first time Wednesday night. The Suns defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves for their third straight win to continue to hold on tightly to that 4th spot in the West.
As alluded to earlier, if the regular season were to end today and both Denver and Phoenix won their first-round series, the two would clash in an incredibly compelling conference semifinal.
Be sure to bookmark InsidersBettingDigest for all of our free NBA picks today and updated NBA team stats. And keep reading for our final Nuggets vs Suns picks.
Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns Betting Picks
This number would indicate that Jokic and Murray won’t be suiting up, but at the very least, it sounds like they’ll only have one of them at most. Jokic is much more of a game-changer than Murray, but this still remains a tricky spot for the Nuggets coming off a back-to-back anyway.
All that said, be sure to monitor any line movement as tip-off draws closer, just in case there are any other lineup adjustments.
If Jokic plays, the line could come down, which would be advantageous as we reveal our final Nuggets vs Suns picks.
Phoenix won on Wednesday despite a poor shooting performance from KD, so look out in this one, as he’ll most certainly improve upon 5-18 from the field. Plus, Devin Booker is playing at an All-NBA level and should lead the Suns to an easy win.
- Pick: Suns -8.5
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