The 2021 NBA Playoffs continue Wednesday, June 9, with just one game on the schedule, so here’s the best Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns betting pick for Game 2 of their Western Conference Semifinals.
The Suns won the opener as 5.5-point home favorites, 122-105, and are listed as 6-point favorites for Game 2 at Phoenix Suns Arena. The Nuggets are +210 moneyline underdogs with a total of 222.0 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Denver needs to step up on both sides of the ball
The Denver Nuggets ran out of gas last Monday and scored only 47 second-half points while yielding 65 in a return. They have to do a much better job defensively in Game 2, as the Suns shot 54.1% from the field in the opener while handing out a whopping 30 assists.
Denver shot 46.7% from the field and went 14-for-40 from beyond the arc (35.0%), but the Nuggets earned a paltry six free throws. They recorded four offensive rebounds and a couple of steals more than their rivals and still lost by 17 points.
Nikola Jokic made just ten of his 23 field-goal attempts in Game 1, and the Nuggets will need more from their best player in order to avoid a 2-0 hole. Denver is scoring 118.6 points a night this postseason, as the Nuggets eliminated the No. 6 Portland Trail Blazers in six games in the first round.
“We did some good things but obviously we were unable to sustain it for 48 minutes,” Denver coach Michael Malone said. “We all collectively have to better, a lot more physical, a lot more disciplined if we want to win in Game 2.”
Phoenix wants to stay aggressive in front of the home fans
The Phoenix Suns trailed by ten points to the Nuggets with 8:13 left in the third quarter when they started to play much better defense. On the other side of the ball, Chris Paul and Mikal Bridges were unstoppable, while Jae Crowder hit a couple of huge triples to help his team overcoming a double-digit deficit.
Mikal Bridges had 23 points and five assists last Monday, making four of his eight attempts from deep. Chris Paul finished with 21 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds, while Devin Booker added 21 points and eight dimes.
The Suns eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers in the previous round, holding the reigning champs to just 97.5 points a night on 41.4% shooting from the field and 29.9% from deep through a five-game series. They averaged 106.6 points per game on 47.0% shooting from the field and 36.2% from downtown.
Trends:
Denver:
- 7-12 ATS in the last 19 games as dogs of six or fewer points
Phoenix:
- 8-3 ATS in the last 11 games against the Northwest Division
- 4-1 ATS in the last five games overall
NBA Free Picks
Two of three regular-season encounters between the Nuggets and Suns went in overtime, and the other was decided by three points, so I’m not expecting the Suns to beat the Nuggets as comfortably as they did in Game 1. Still, I’m looking for the hosts’ defense to make difference down the stretch, so give me the Suns as 4-point favorites.
Phoenix has won 17 of its last 19 games at home, and with their fans back on the stands, the Suns should have a huge advantage in Game 2.
Pick: Phoenix Suns -4.0 at -150
The Total:
Game 1 went in the over of a 219.5-point total, and the over is now 6-1 in the last seven encounters between the Nuggets and Suns. I followed the betting trends in Game 1, but with the line at 222.0 points, this one seems like a tricky wager.
Both teams prefer to play at a slow pace, recording below 97.5 possessions per 48 minutes each. The Suns will continue to play aggressive defense, and the Nuggets will have to improve defensively a lot if they want to stand a chance of upsetting the odds, so this time, I’m going against the betting trends.
Pick: Go under 222.0 points at -110