The Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns will face off Saturday for the second time this season at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. Denver won their last meeting, controlling the pace behind a strong performance from Nikola Jokic.
Denver continues to hold a top spot in the Western Conference, led by Jokic’s consistent triple-double contributions and Jamal Murray’s return to full strength. The Suns, meanwhile, remain one of the league’s most unpredictable teams as Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal struggle to stay healthy and find rhythm together.
Denver has covered the spread in 6 of its last 8 games, while Phoenix has failed to cover in 4 of its previous 5. The total has gone over in five straight Suns games, largely due to their fast-paced offense and inconsistent defense.
Expect Denver to dictate tempo and exploit the Suns’ defensive lapses. Jokic’s offensive versatility and the team’s defensive cohesion give them an advantage on the road.
Pick: Nuggets -4.5
Prediction: Nuggets 117, Suns 109
Nikola Jokic: Averaging 28.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 9.6 assists, Jokic remains an MVP frontrunner.
Devin Booker: Puts up 26.4 points per game but has missed several contests due to minor injuries.
Author’s Summary: Denver enters as the more consistent, healthier team, and with Jokic in peak form, they are well-positioned to edge past Phoenix in a high-scoring contest.