Suns vs. Nuggets prediction and odds for Game 2 (Denver’s offense has the answers)

The Nuggets took care of business in Game 1 against the Suns, winning 125-107, getting a massive performance from Jamal Murray, who scored 34 points in impressive fashion.

Denver, who entered the series as underdogs despite having home court advantage and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, looks to take a 2-0 lead on the Suns at home on Monday night. Can the team continue to get clean looks on offense and outpace the likes of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker?

First, let’s look at the odds and then get to the best bet:

Suns vs. Nuggets odds, spread and total

Suns vs. Nuggets prediction and pick

Despite the fact that Phoenix shot more efficiently as a whole, 51% vs. 47%, Denver won the three-point battle significantly by making nine more long balls and also winning the rebounding battle by 11 and committing seven fewer turnovers.

While Denver may cool off from the field, and Murray may not hit six of his 10 three-point tries, the Nuggets have the answer to the Suns defense.

Whether the Suns let Murray cook in the pick-and-roll, or blitz him as the ball handler, Nikola Jokic is in line for a big game against this shallow Suns front line. If the Suns send two at Murray as an adjustment, the best passing big man of all time is going to have a 4-on-3 to pick apart.

If the Suns keep just Deandre Ayton on Jokic, I fancy the two-time MVP’s chances at winning that battle. Ayton’s defense was an eye sore in Game 1, and the Suns clearly have no depth behind him with Bismack Biyombo benched in the first half for Jock Landale, a futile effort at trying to get a body on Jokic.

Even with a drop in efficiency, I believe that the Nuggets have the answers to keep scoring on the Suns with Jokic in an advantageous matchup. With the attention he’ll have to get, the floor should open up for the likes of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Aaron Gordon, among others, from beyond the arc to outpace the Suns.

Phoenix’s shot profile is hyper concerning as the team is incredibly reliant on mid-range jumpers. While they have some of the best in the league at it in Durant, Booker and Chris Paul, they are losing the math battle to Denver, who had the best offense in the league in terms of effective field goal percentage.

I’m not going to take the spread in this game at over two possessions, but I will play the Denver team total over as my best bet for Game 2 with the team’s ability to get clean looks often.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.