The Phoenix Suns only needed five games to oust an L.A. Clippers team that was missing Kawhi Leonard for much of the first round. Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Denver Nuggets, though, showed that the Suns will once again have to elevate their game to advance, as Denver throttled the Suns, 125-107. The Suns led by one after the first period, but then a 37-19 onslaught by the Nuggets in the second quarter basically put the game out of reach. Jamal Murray dropped 34 points on the Suns, knocking down six of the 16 three-balls the Nuggets would make. Was it the thin air of Denver, or are the Nuggets really that much better? Read on for our NBA betting prediction for Game 2.
NBA Betting Preview: Western Conference Semifinal
Phoenix Suns at Denver Nuggets, Game 2
Nuggets lead, 1-0
When: Monday, May 1, 2023, 10:00 pm ET
Where: Ball Arena, Denver
TV: TNT
Radio: KMVP 98.7 FM Phoenix / KKSE 92.5 FM Denver
Live Stream: Sling TV
NBA Odds: Phoenix +4.5 / O/U 228.5 // Phoenix +150 / Denver -185
Why should you bet on the Phoenix Suns?
Since Kevin Durant came to Phoenix at the trade deadline, the Suns had only lost one time with him on the floor before Game 1. There are a lot of observers who think that, with him and Devin Booker playing together, the Suns are the top team in the West, but the way that the Nuggets beat the Suns in the opener makes some serious thinking necessary. KD put up 29 points and 14 rebounds, and Booker scored 27. The question mark was Deandre Ayton, who only had 14 points and seven rebounds.
Ayton also disappeared for much of the Western Conference semifinal loss to Dallas last year, as the Mavericks beat the Suns in seven despite not having a credible presence in the paint. Ayton should have been able to feast on the Mavericks’ combination of Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell inside, but his numbers were not there. If Ayton can’t figure things out, Jokic will take over this series.
Bet on the Suns!
Why should you put your money on the Nuggets?
The Suns actually shot better from the floor than Denver did, shooting 52 percent to just 47 percent for the Nuggets. The Nuggets took 17 more shots, though, thanks to winning the battle of the boards and prying away 16 turnovers. The Nuggets made nine more three-pointers than the Suns did as well.
The real story of the game was Murray’s performance, as he dished out nine assists to go along with those 34 points. He sank two of those three-pointers in the fourth quarter on back-to-back possessions to show that the game was in Denver’s hands. Aaron Gordon put up 23 points and six rebounds, nailing three shots from distance. Nikola Jokic added 24 points and 19 rebounds, once again dominating the paint.
Bet on the Nuggets!
Final Score and Prediction
The Nuggets are the top seed in the West for a reason, but I also expect KD to do even more in Game 2 after this loss. While Booker can stack up points, KD has the capacity to take over a game and lead his team to an emphatic win. I think the Nuggets will outduel them, but it will be much closer. I predict a final score of Denver 118, Phoenix 112.
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