The Denver Nuggets (42-19) host the Phoenix Suns (35-26) on Tuesday. This is a game between two teams on different paths right now. Denver is on a six-game winning streak. Meanwhile, the Suns are on a two-game losing streak. Additionally, they faced them earlier in the year in Phoenix, and Denver came out on top. That 8-point victory explains why the Nuggets are favored on the road right now. But the Suns will look to snap their recent poor run of play in the mile-high city.
The Suns have also lost three out of their last five games, with two of those losses coming to the Houston Rockets. And although the Rockets may be a little better than what the record indicates, those games do not bode well for a team that hopes to make some playoff noise. Furthermore, the Nuggets are taking care of business and look renewed since the All-Star break.
But do you see this Denver team getting a dominant win against Phoenix tonight?
Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns Betting Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | MoneyLine |
| Denver | -8.5
-110 |
O 224
-112 |
-395 |
| Phoenix | +8.5
-110 |
U 224
-108 |
+310 |
| **Odds Courtesy of DraftKings** | |||
Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns Game Details
- Fixture: Phoenix @ Denver
- Date and Time: March 5, 2024 @ 10:00 pm EST
- Location: Ball Arena in Denver, CO
Apex Tale of the Tape
|
Denver Nuggets |
vs. |
Phoenix Suns |
| 42-19 | Record | 35-26 |
| 114.5 | Points Per Game | 117.1 |
| 49.3 | FG% | 49.3 |
| 36.8 | 3PT% | 37.6 |
| 44.4 | Rebounds Per Game | 43.9 |
| 110.3 | Points Allowed Per Game | 114.4 |
| 46.6 | Defensive FG% | 46.4 |
| 36.4 | Defensive 3PT% | 36.3 |
| 77.9 | Defensive FT% | 78.7 |
| 41.9 | Defensive Rebounds Per Game | 41.7 |
| 5-0 | Last 5 W-L | 2-3 |
| 99.2 | Team Pace |
101.5 |
Key Stats
Denver Nuggets
Denver is looking to prepare themselves for the upcoming playoffs, and they will do so through the play of Nikola Jokic. He is averaging 25.9 points per game, 12.2 rebounds per game, and 9.2 assists per game. Therefore, he is yet again in the MVP conversation. He also looks to enhance the play of those around him. And while many fans will recognize Jamal Murray as the second-best scoring option for the Denver Nuggets, another teammate is starting to step up more and more.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 25 points in the game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Additionally, Aaron Gordon chipped in 18 points in the victory. With these two starting to come into their own, it eases the scoring responsibility of Jokic and Murray for this team. A loss to the Phoenix Suns would not be terrible considering the current form of their opposition tonight. The home team should handle business easily tonight.
Phoenix Suns
Phoenix is a team that needs to get into form quickly. While they would be favored to win a series against multiple teams, the Denver Nuggets remain a step above them in terms of playoff potential. Furthermore, they are losing winnable games and nearly losing games that really shouldn’t have been close. Therefore, it will be important for them to pick up a win today against a good Denver Nuggets team.
However, Jusuf Nurkic is questionable with a calf injury. Also, Devin Booker will remain out until the middle of March with his ankle injury. Therefore, the offensive burden of Kevin Durant piles on that much more. But they will hope that Bradley Beal can match his 31-point performance as he did against the Oklahoma City Thunder again.
Game Prediction
This Phoenix Suns team is nowhere near as good as the Denver Nuggets at this moment. And even if they were to get their roster pieces back and healthy for this game, I’d still like Denver to cover the spread today. This Denver team is the reigning champion for a reason, and Phoenix looks a step ahead of them at this present time. Therefore, it’s hard to see them coming out on top, much less keeping it close enough to consider picking them to beat the spread.
Furthermore, because of the lack of offensive cohesion, I like the under tonight. Although the Suns can score and Durant is due for an outburst in the NBA, I see the overall defense of the Nuggets as big enough to limit the Suns on offense. The Denver Nuggets will win this game by at least double digits, and they will do so while limiting this Phoenix Suns team.
Final Pick
Phoenix Suns -8.5 and Under 224
About the Author
Gabriel is a lifelong sports fan. Pick a sport, and he’ll enjoy talking about it with you! From football to soccer, combat sports, and volleyball! You can follow Gabriel on Twitter @BigTenGabriel to enjoy all of his great content. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel, where we do several shows daily. Also, check out our main page by clicking here! For more fantasy-specific sports content, visit our Total Apex Fantasy Sports website!
