Phoenix Suns vs Denver Nuggets Prediction, 5/1/2023 Preview and Pick

Game: Phoenix Suns vs Denver Nuggets

Date: Monday, May 1, 2023

Location: Ball Arena in Denver, CO

TV: TNT

Odds/Point Spread: Phoenix (+5)

The Denver Nuggets will try to beat the Phoenix Suns at Ball Arena on Monday in Game 2 of their series. The Nuggets lead 1-0. Denver opens this matchup as 5-point favorites. The over/under has been set at 227.

The Suns went home with a loss by a final score of 125-107 in Game 1. Phoenix wrapped up the contest with a 51.2% field goal percentage (43 of 84) and knocked down 7 of their 23 shots from distance. From the charity stripe, the Suns buried 14 of their 17 tries for a rate of 82.4%. Concerning rebounding, they compiled a total of 38 with 8 of them being on the offensive end. They also doled out 20 assists in this contest while creating 9 turnovers and having 4 steals. In reference to defense, Phoenix allowed their opponent to shoot 47.5% from the field on 48 of 101 shooting. Denver recorded 22 assists and had 14 steals for the game. Furthermore, Denver had 49 rebounds (16 offensive, 33 defensive) and had 5 blocked shots. Denver walked away from this one shooting 86.7% at the free throw line by burying 13 of their 15 attempts. They also knocked down 16 of 37 attempts from beyond the perimeter. With respect to personal fouls, the Suns walked away with 19 and the Nuggets totaled 19 personal fouls.

Kevin Durant is someone who came through for this game. He notched 29 points on 12 out of 19 shooting. He was on the court for 36 mins and also grabbed 14 rebounds. Durant ended up going 63.2% from the field and also distributed 1 assist.

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Phoenix will play this game with a win-loss record of 45-37 for the year. They are averaging 113.6 points per game (17th in the league) while hitting 46.7% from the field. The Suns are connecting on 37.4% on three-point shots (1,001 of 2,674) and 79.3% from the charity stripe. As a team, Phoenix is grabbing 44.2 boards per game and has totaled 2,235 dimes on the season, which ranks 4th in the league in terms of passing the rock. They are giving up possession 13.5 times per game and as a basketball team they are committing 21.2 fouls per game.

On the defensive end, the Suns have forced 14.4 turnovers per contest while drawing 19.9 fouls. They are surrendering 35.7% from 3-point land and they rank 6th in the league in points per game allowed (111.6). The Suns are giving up and opponent field goal percentage of 46.6% (3,280 of 7,044) and they relinquish 42.9 rebounds per contest as a unit. They currently rank 3rd in the league in allowing assists with 1,915 surrendered this season.

In regard to attacking the glass in Game 1, Denver permitted Phoenix to grab 38 in total (8 offensive). They shot 30.4% from distance by connecting on 7 out of 23 and ended up going 14 out of 17 at the charity stripe (82.4%). The Nuggets allowed the Suns to make 43 of their 84 tries from the floor which gave them a percentage of 51.2% in the matchup. When the final whistle was blown, the Nuggets shot 48 out of 101 from the field which had them sitting at 47.5%. With respect to shooting from 3-point land, Denver buried 16 out of 37 attempts (43.2%). They were able to make 13 of those for a percentage of 86.7%. The Suns earned 19 fouls in the matchup which took the Nuggets to the charity stripe for 15 shots. They also gave up possession of the ball 9 times, while getting 14 steals in this contest. The Nuggets snagged 33 defensive rebounds and 16 offensive boards totaling 49 for the matchup.

Jamal Murray pitched in for the Nuggets for the game. He converted 13 of 24 for the matchup for a field goal percentage of 54.2%, and accounted for 5 rebounds. Murray earned 34 points in his 37 mins on the hardwood and totaled 9 assists for the game.

Denver has a mark of 53-29 for the campaign. As an offensive team, the Nuggets are hitting on 50.4% from the floor, which ranks 1st in the NBA. Denver has scored 9,495 points for the campaign (115.8 per contest) and they snag 43.0 boards per game. They are earning an assist 28.9 times per contest (2nd in the league) and they are giving up possession 14.5 times per contest. The Nuggets are committing 18.6 fouls every game and they shoot 75.1% from the free throw line.

The Denver defense gives up 34.4% on shots from beyond the arc (933 of 2,711) and their opponents are knocking down 77.5% of their shots from the charity stripe. They allow 25.7 dimes and 40.8 total boards per game, ranking them 16th and 1st in the NBA. The Nuggets on defense are ranked 8th in basketball in PPG surrendered with 112.5. They are forcing 13.5 turnovers per game and allow teams to shoot 47.8% from the field (20th in the league).

Who will win tonight's NBA game against the spread?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Denver (-5)

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