The Phoenix Suns (1-1) and Denver Nuggets (0-1) are set to face-off in Ball Arena Saturday. Tip-off from Denver, Colorado, is set for 9 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Suns vs. Nuggets odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
2024-25 season series: Denver won 3-1
Phoenix was dominated 129-102 by the LA Clippers Friday, failing to cover as a 10-point underdog as the Over (223.5) hit. The Suns got no stops defensively as they allowed LA to shoot 59.2% from the field and 55.2% from deep while the Suns shot just 41.1% from the field in the loss. F Dillon Brooks (21) was the only Sun to eclipse 20 points Friday.
Denver suffered a 137-131 OT loss at the hands of the Golden State Warriors Thursday while failing to cover as a 2-point underdog with the Over (232.5) hitting. F Aaron Gordon dropped a career-high 50 points on 10-of-11 shooting from deep while C Nikola Jokic and G Jamal Murray each added over 20 as well. Unfortunately, down the stretch nothing was enough to overcome G Stephen Curry as he scored 16 straight points for the Warriors during the 4th quarter and OT to escape with the win.
Suns at Nuggets odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:45 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Suns +600 (bet $100 to win $600) | Nuggets -900 (bet $900 to win $100)Against the spread (ATS): Suns +13.5 (-115) | Nuggets -13.5 (-105)Over/Under (O/U): 234.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)Suns at Nuggets key injuries
Suns
(Not yet submitted — below was for Friday’s game)
G Jalen Green (hamstring) out
Nuggets
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Suns at Nuggets picks and predictionsPrediction
Nuggets 126, Suns 110
PASS.
The Nuggets will have no problem covering here as -900 favorites as they are the much better unit, but no favorite set so heavily is ever worth the risk of betting on. Pass here and bet on the spread and/or total instead.
LEAN NUGGETS -13.5 (-105).
With Green likely out for this contest, this Suns offense will likely look just as bad as it did against LA. Defensively, the Suns have nothing that can stop Jokic. The Nuggets will simply be able to get whatever they want offensively while also not having too much to stress about defensively.
This is a lean because G Devin Booker is still on the Suns and he is talented enough to keep the game within 14 just by himself and because both teams are 5-5 ATS in their last 10 matchups against one another.
BET OVER 234.5 (-105).
This Nuggets team just put up 131 against a good Golden State defense, so look for scoring to be no issue for Denver against this bad Suns defense. On the other side, Denver isn’t one of those contenders that stifles everything you do defensively, so expect for Phoenix to generate more offense here than in the loss against LA as the Clippers are just the better matchup defensively for this Suns team.
There is some risk here as the Under is 7-3 in the last 10 matchups between these squads.
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