Suns vs Nuggets Preview: Booker Helps Phoenix Even Series
Denver Looks to Return to Winning Ways at Home
The Suns vs Nuggets preview for Game 5 sees Denver favored by 5 points at home and the total is sitting at 228. After the Suns’ 129-124 victory Sunday night, the series has basically become a best-of-three. The home team has won all four games, something the Nuggets can take some comfort in. But Denver needs to stop Devin Booker, who has been lights out in Phoenix.
Booker and Kevin Durant each scored 36 points in Game 4. That was enough to overcome a 53-point outburst by Nikola Jokic, who also had 11 assists. Jamal Murray added 28 points in the loss, as all five Denver starters scored in double figures.
Defense was optional Sunday, as Denver shot 56.2% for the game and the Suns hit 56.8%. The Suns were better from 3-point range and that turned out to be the difference. With both NBA teams making so many shots, rebounds were down. Phoenix had a 37-32 advantage in the game.
The Suns led by six entering the fourth quarter and Denver got within three points several times. But Denver couldn’t get a defensive stop when it needed one and the Suns took the win.
Suns vs Nuggets 
Date & Time:
Location: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Streaming: TNT
Denver Happy to be Back at Home
The Suns vs Nuggets preview shows Denver was one of the best home teams in the NBA. Denver is 39-7 at home this year, going 34-7 in the NBA regular season and 5-0 in the playoffs. The Nuggets are 29-16-1 ATS, something to remember when you see the NBA spread tonight. The Nuggets aren’t quite as efficient as a small favorite. Denver is 16-12-1 when favored by 5 or fewer points.
Booker’s Shooting Reaches New Heights
Booker has now scored 331 points in nine NBA playoffs games. That’s the most any player has scored in nine games since Michael Jordan in 1990. Even more impressive is that Booker isn’t putting up 30 shots a game. He’s hitting 60.2% from the field and 48.9% from 3-point range. In Games 3 and 4, he shot 79.1% from the field, going 20 for 25 and 14 for 18. Booker’s lowest shooting percentage in the playoffs in any game is 47.6%.
Phoenix Bench Comes Up Clutch
While Booker, Durant and Jokic received all of the attention in Game 4, the Suns’ bench deserves some credit. They completely outplayed Denver and that was key in Phoenix winning. The Nuggets’ bench combined for 11 points, six rebounds and two assists and a -37 rating. The Phoenix bench scored 40 points and was a combined +48.
Suns Struggle on the Road
It’s no secret the Suns aren’t the greatest of road teams. Phoenix is 19-26 on the road and 21-23 against the spread. As an away underdog, the Suns are just 5-18 straight-up and 9-13-1 versus the NBA odds and scores. It’s even worse when the Suns are small underdogs. Phoenix is 2-12 straight-up and 4-9-1 ATS when receiving 5 or fewer points.
Handicapping Game 5
The Suns vs Nuggets preview shows Phoenix with all of the momentum entering Game 5. But the Suns have to win on the road to win the series and Denver isn’t an easy place for visiting teams. The Nuggets had no problems in the first two games of the series, winning both games by double digits.
The Suns are going to keep looking to Booker. Until somebody shows they can stop him, there’s no need to try anything different. Durant is also having a solid postseason and the Suns are tough when both players are on. Phoenix knows Denver is going to go to Jokic often in Game 5 and have to defend better.
The key for the Nuggets is simple. Try to slow down the ‘Big 2’ of Phoenix. If that doesn’t happen, the Nuggets could very well be sent home in the next few games. Offensively, the Nuggets need better production from their bench. You can’t have your reserves getting consistently outplayed and expect to win.
It’s hard to go against the Suns they way Booker is playing right now. But the Phoenix team is completely different on the road. The season-long trends are pointing towards the Nuggets and that’s probably the way to go in this one.
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