Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns: NBA Picks and Predictions

© Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Game Preview: Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns

The Denver Nuggets will be facing the Phoenix Suns on March 31, 2023, at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ. The Nuggets currently have a 51-24 record, with 19-18 being their away record, while the Suns have a 41-35 record, with 25-12 being their home record. This game is expected to be an intense matchup, with both teams looking to continue their winning records. The Nuggets are led by their star player, Nikola Jokic, who has been dominant this season, averaging 24.9 points per game and 11.9 rebounds per game. He will be a key player for the Nuggets in this game. The Suns will be relying on their point guard, Chris Paul, who is averaging 9.1 assists per game and has been a great leader for the team this season. In terms of team stats, the Nuggets have a strong offense, ranking 9th in points per game, while the Suns have a strong defense, ranking 5th in opponent points per game. Both teams also have solid rebounding stats, with the Nuggets ranking 20th in total rebounds per game and the Suns ranking 8th. Overall, this game is expected to be a close matchup between two strong teams. The Nuggets have the stronger offense, while the Suns have the stronger defense. Both teams will need to play at their best to come out on top in this game.

Nuggets: Offensive Analysis

The Denver Nuggets come into their matchup against the Phoenix Suns with one of the best offenses in the league. Led by MVP candidate Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets average 116.8 points per game, which is the ninth-highest mark in the NBA. Denver's offense is fueled by their efficiency from beyond the arc, as they shoot 38.9% from three-point range, which ranks first in the league. Jokic is a big reason for this success, as he leads the team in three-point percentage at 43.2%. The Nuggets also excel in sharing the ball, averaging 29.3 assists per game, which is the second-highest mark in the NBA. Jokic once again leads the team in this category, dishing out an impressive 9.9 assists per game. Denver's offense has been particularly effective in the first quarter, as they average 31 points per game in the opening frame, which is the best mark in the league. However, they will be facing a tough challenge in the Suns' defense, which allows just 111.7 points per game, the fifth-lowest mark in the NBA. Overall, the Nuggets' offense is one of the best in the league and will look to continue their strong play against a tough Suns team. If they can knock down their outside shots and continue to move the ball effectively, they should be in good shape to come away with a win. HTTP Error: 429 Client Error: Too Many Requests for url: https://api.openai.com/v1/chat/completions

Nuggets: Defensive Analysis

The Denver Nuggets will be facing off against the Phoenix Suns in what promises to be an exciting game on March 31, 2023. In this game, the Nuggets will need to focus on their defense and use it to shut down the Suns' offense. Looking at the statistics, the Nuggets have a solid defense that ranks 10th in the league in points allowed per game at 112.7. They also have a good average score margin of +4.2, which ranks them sixth in the league. The Nuggets' defense is anchored by their star center Nikola Jokic, who averages 11.9 rebounds per game and is a strong contender for Defensive Player of the Year. The Suns' offense, on the other hand, ranks 17th in the league with an average of 113.6 points per game. However, with Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton leading the way, the Suns have the potential to score big. The Nuggets need to focus on shutting down these two players and limiting their scoring opportunities. One area where the Nuggets excel is in their ability to limit fast break points. They rank fifth in the league in this category, allowing only 16.2 points per game. This will be crucial against the Suns, who love to push the pace and score in transition. The Nuggets also have a strong ability to defend the paint, allowing only 53 points per game in this area. This will be important against Ayton, who is a strong low-post scorer. Overall, the Nuggets have the defensive prowess to shut down the Suns' offense and come away with a win. They will need to focus on limiting fast break points, defending the paint, and shutting down Booker and Ayton. If they can do this, they will be in a good position to secure the victory.

Suns: Offense Analysis

The Phoenix Suns will be up against the Denver Nuggets on March 31, 2023. This game will be a tough one for the Suns, who have struggled on the offensive end this season. Looking at the team's statistics, the Suns are only scoring an average of 113.6 points per game, ranking them 17th in the league. Their opponents, the Denver Nuggets, have an average of 116.8 points per game, ranking 9th in the league. The Suns' effective field goal percentage is also a cause for concern, ranking them 22nd in the league at 53.5%. They will need to improve their shooting accuracy if they want to keep up with the Nuggets, who have the league's highest effective field goal percentage at 57.9%. One area where the Suns have been successful this season is in their assists per game, averaging 27.3 and ranking them 3rd in the league. However, their turnovers per game average of 13.7 is only slightly better than their opponent's average of 14.6. Overall, the Suns will need to step up their offense if they want to compete with the Nuggets. They will need to focus on their shooting accuracy and limit their turnovers to give themselves the best chance at victory.

Suns: Defensive Analysis

The Suns are set to face the Denver Nuggets on March 31, 2023, in a game that is sure to be intense. As the Suns prepare for the matchup, it is important to analyze their defensive strategy and how it matches up against the Nuggets. Here are some key factors to consider: 1. Points Allowed: The Suns have allowed an average of 111.7 points per game, ranking them 5th in the league. This is a strong indication of their defensive capabilities and should give them confidence heading into the game. 2. Opponent Field Goal Percentage: The Suns have limited opponents to a 53.4% effective field goal percentage, ranking them 6th in the league. This is another strong indication of their defensive prowess and should help them contain the Nuggets' offense. 3. Rebounding: The Suns will need to focus on their rebounding efforts as they rank 15th in the league in total rebounds per game, with an average of 51.0. The Nuggets have a dominant rebounder in Nikola Jokic, who averages 11.9 rebounds per game, so the Suns will need to work hard to keep him off the boards. 4. Steals and Turnovers: The Suns have a slight advantage over the Nuggets in terms of steals and turnovers. They average 7.3 steals per game compared to Denver's 7.2, and their turnovers per game stand at 13.7 compared to Denver's 14.6. This could be a key factor in the game, as turnovers often lead to fast-break opportunities. In conclusion, the Suns have a strong defensive strategy that should serve them well in their matchup against the Nuggets. They have limited opponents to low point totals and field goal percentages, and they have a slight edge in steals and turnovers. If they can focus on rebounding and containing Jokic, the Suns should be able to come out with a victory.

Injury Report

The Denver Nuggets have listed four players with injuries for the game against the Phoenix Suns. Nikola Jokic and Vlatko Cancar are both doubtful for the game on March 31 due to undisclosed injuries. Collin Gillespie is also out due to an injury he sustained in the previous game. Peyton Watson and Jack White are also doubtful for the same game. On the other hand, the Phoenix Suns have no injured players on their roster and will have a full squad available for the game. It remains to be seen if the injured players for the Nuggets will be able to recover in time for the game against the Suns, but their absence will undoubtedly affect the team's performance. On the other hand, the Suns will benefit from having a full roster and will look to capitalize on their opponents' injuries.

Betting Trends

The Nuggets and the Suns have been consistently popular picks among bettors this season, with both teams covering the spread in approximately half of their games. The Nuggets have a slightly better ATS record at 40-34-1, compared to the Suns' record of 39-35-2. When it comes to the over/under, the Nuggets have gone over in 41 of their games, while the Suns have gone over in 44 of their games. This suggests that the over may be a good bet for this matchup. In terms of recent trends, the Nuggets have covered the spread in their last two games, while the Suns have covered the spread in four of their last five games. Additionally, the Suns have won their last three games outright. Overall, it seems that the Suns may be the safer pick in this matchup based on their recent performance and overall record. However, with the Nuggets having one of the league's top offensive units and the Suns boasting a strong defense, the over/under may also be worth considering for this game.

Prediction: Nuggets vs. Suns - NBA Game Summary - March 31, 2023

The Nuggets and the Suns are both among the top teams in the West and this game could have serious playoff implications. While the Suns have home-court advantage, the Nuggets have been playing excellent basketball of late and are clicking on both sides of the court. Additionally, the Nuggets have a better spread record than the Suns, making them a more favorable pick for this game. Expect a close game, but ultimately the Nuggets should come out on top. 

Pick: Nuggets (+2.5)