Nuggets vs. Suns Recreation 2 odds, prediction, choose: Denver eyes commanding lead
Only a few days in the past, the Suns have been the favorites to win the Western Convention and among the many favorites to win it all.
Now they discover themselves dealing as underdogs to win their second-round collection in opposition to the Nuggets, who’re favored to win Recreation 2 after an announcement win to open this collection.
Denver had little challenge dispatching the mighty Suns within the first sport of this collection, although Kevin Durant and co. will virtually definitely ship a counterpunch after that early loss.
Will or not it’s sufficient to show the tides of their favor?
Right here’s how we’re betting Monday’s contest, which ideas off at 10 p.m. ET on TNT.
Nuggets vs. Suns odds
(by way of BetMGM)
- Nuggets -4.5 (-105), moneyline -175
- Suns +4.5 (-115), moneyline +145
- O/U 228.5 (over -115)
Nuggets vs. Suns prediction and evaluation
(10 p.m. ET, TNT)
No matter you considered these two groups coming into this collection, it’s arduous to disregard what we noticed from the Nuggets of their 125-107 house win in Recreation 1.
And the Suns left that loss, with loads of questions that simply won’t have solutions by Recreation 2.
The largest one, clearly, is how you can cease Jamal Murray. The Nuggets lead guard confirmed flashes of postseason brilliance in 2020, when he averaged 26.5 factors with 4 video games of at the least 40 factors – together with two 50-pieces – however accidents have sidelined the dynamic scorer for every of Denver’s final two postseason runs.
He’s again in a giant means this 12 months, as he confirmed in a dominant Recreation 1 efficiency.
Murray led all gamers with 34 factors and 9 assists, hitting six of his crew’s 16 threes with a show of elite shot-making that Suns coach Monty Williams basically deemed “unguardable” in his postgame presser.
His sizzling hand helped the Nuggets overcome the Suns’ robust taking pictures evening from the ground (51.2%), although that offensive surge for Phoenix got here with a wholesome heap of live-ball turnovers and a awful effort on the glass, the place Denver gained the rebounding battle by 11 with 16 offensive boards in complete.
These points aren’t going away anytime quickly: the Suns surrendered at the least 12 offensive rebounds in three of their 5 video games in opposition to the Clippers, and so they completed with double-digit turnovers in 4 of these 5 contests.
It in the end didn’t matter, as Durant’s scoring prowess was no match for Los Angeles’ injury-riddled roster.
That isn’t the case right here. The Nuggets aren’t one of the best No. 1 seed we’ve seen over time, however this can be a deep crew with elite star energy – to the purpose the place Murray’s Recreation 1 heroics relegated the two-time reigning MVP in Nikola Jokic (24 factors, 19 rebounds) to a relative footnote in a blowout affair.
Betting on the NBA?
Actually, that contest uncovered two truths about this collection and matchup generally: the betting market is severely undervaluing the Nuggets writ massive, and it’s overstating the relative power of the Suns, whose depth and protection took a severe hit once they traded for Durant on the deadline.
They’ve been capable of overpower groups, anyway, however they haven’t actually been examined thus far, both.
That is the true take a look at, and I didn’t see a lot in Recreation 1 that might recommend a reversal of fortune in Recreation 2 – particularly if “Bubble Murray” is right here to remain.