Suns vs Nuggets Betting Preview: Heavyweights Collide in Second-Round Series

Nuggets Look to Exact Some Revenge

The Denver Nuggets will get a chance at redemption over Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns when the two teams meet for their second-round series. Let’s take a look at our Suns vs Nuggets Betting Preview and see what we can expect in this best-of-seven matchup.

The Nuggets showed their offensive muscle in their first-round series win over the Minnesota Timberwolves as Nikola Jokic again showed why he poses a complete mismatch against anyone in his path in the playoffs. The two-time MVP got more than enough support from those around him and if Denver can get that balanced output across the board they simply have too much firepower for teams to handle.

If there’s any team who can match them in their starting five it’s the Phoenix Suns. Devin Booker and Kevin Durant are two of the best midrange scorers in basketball and the thought of them running pick-and-roll action on Jokic is enough to give any Denver fan nightmares. However, the Nuggets vs Suns matchup will surely be a thrilling one to watch.

The Nuggets are +100 underdogs to win this series despite being the #1 seed in the Western Conference. The NBA point spread for Game 1 however has Denver listed as 2.5-point favorites.

Phoenix Needs to Match Fire with Fire

The Phoenix Suns offense has shown itself to be scorching hot with Durant in the lineup and ensuring they can execute at that end of the floor might be their best approach to tackling this series.

The Nuggets ranked 21st in Pick-and-Roll defense this season, giving up 1.05 points per possession on this sets and struggling with Jokic playing drop coverage. They were also 23rd in opponent pick-and-roll frequency with teams running 17% of their halfcourt sets in that manner.

No team is better equipped at running Pick-and-Roll screen sets than Phoenix in the NBA playoffs, with the trio of Booker, Durant and Chris Paul as good as anyone at creating high quality looks as the primary ball-handler in those sets.

The Suns were 1st in midrange frequency on offense this season and 3rd in midrange shot quality to match, recording a 0.98 Shot Quality average in those possessions. Monty Williams did a great job of attacking Ivica Zubac in drop coverage in their first round series against the Clippers and we saw how unstoppable that offense became as that series progressed and they were able to hunt and force mismatches on switch action.

While the Suns defense isn’t a horrible unit they simply don’t match up well with a Jokic-led offense that can have him play as a scorer and primary playmaker inside against Deandre Ayton. Recognizing that their best form of defense is offense early might be their best chance to steal home court advantage in this series.

Nuggets Must Maximize Depth

It’s been said before and will continue to be said again throughout this series; the Suns bench is abysmal and might be this teams downfall when it’s all said and done.

Denver has long struggled to cope with the non-Jokic minutes but now has the opportunity to maximize them in a way that is unfamiliar to Mike Malone.

The Suns bench averaged just 12.2 points per game in their first-round series with the Clippers. Only once did they score 13+ points in a game and the 11 points from Josh Okogie in Game 5 was the only time a player scored double-digits for them off the bench in the entire series.

While the Nuggets aren’t exactly littered with talent in their second unit they are continually finding productive minutes from Bruce Brown and Jeff Green in particular.

Brown alone averaged 11.4 points per game off the bench in their first-round series against the Clippers and could get some added scoring and playmaking from Reggie Jackson, who should feature more often in this specific matchup.

If Denver can maintain any edge their starters provide on a nightly basis in this series then there’s no denying that they are huge value at plus-money in this series. Couple that with the fact that they are listed as -140 favorites on the Moneyline for Game 1 and grabbing series position on Denver early might be the best path to set up some strong market position here.

That’s all for our Suns vs Nuggets Betting Preview ahead of their second-round series. Be sure to check back for daily NBA betting tips and analysis from all the playoff action.

For NBA betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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