The 17-point loss was disappointing but the Jazz were close up until the Suns went on a massive 34-9 run in the second half to break away for good. Denver will have to regroup and recover after their 122-105 loss and hope to bounce back. That won’t be easy against a Phoenix team that is playing behind a raucous crowd. Let’s take a deeper look to see who has the upper hand in Game 2.

Nuggets vs. Suns NBA Playoff Odds

The over is 7-1 in the Nuggets last eight games overall and you could expect that to continue in Game 2. It didn’t seem like the Nuggets had enough moxie defensively to stop Phoenix, which could cause them problems in this matchup.

On the other hand, the Suns are 7-1 ATS in their past eight games in the postseason when coming into the matchup as the favorite. They have just been terrific all postseason despite Chris Paul battling a shoulder injury through the entire first round.

Denver Nuggets

Denver did have a few positives to take away from Game 1 despite being blown out in the end. Facundo Campazzo put in 14 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals while filling in for the injured Jamal Murray at point guard. He was able to give their team a spark in the first half, but it just didn’t carry over to the rest of the game. Nikola Jokic was surprisingly ineffective, shooting just 10-of-23 and putting up 22 points, nine rebounds and three assists.

The league’s MVP spoke of how Deandre Ayton was a tricky matchup for him and that proved to be the case. If the Nuggets want any hope of upsetting another team, they are going to have to get more out of their superstar player and potential MVP of the league. Otherwise, Phoenix will likely move ahead 2-0 in this series.

Phoenix Suns

Everything went right for the Suns in the second half of Game 1. Chris Paul and Devin Booker each started out slow but they both turned it up in the fourth quarter – especially Paul, who ended with 21 points and 11 assists on the night. Mikal Bridges was another surprise for Phoenix as he stepped up big time to contribute 23 points of his own.

Probably the biggest victory for Phoenix was the job Ayton did on Jokic defensively. Ayton was active, quick and decisive the entire night to limit Jokic every time he touched the basketball. Not to mention the fact that he stayed out of foul trouble, which was the biggest concern for him in this series. The Suns seem to just be an all-around team with excellent chemistry, it’s hard to see them losing at home here.

NBA Playoff Prediction: Who Will Win Nuggets vs. Suns?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Nuggets Team Leaders

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 26.36
Assists	Nikola Jokic 8.32
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 10.83
FG%	Nikola Jokic 56.6
Steals	Jamal Murray 1.33
Blocks	JaVale McGee 1.08

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 25.55
Assists	Chris Paul 8.89
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 10.54
FG%	Deandre Ayton 62.6
Steals	Chris Paul 1.41
Blocks	Deandre Ayton 1.17

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 29.8
Assists	Monte Morris 5.5
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 11.6
FG%	Vlatko Cancar 100
Steals	Facundo Campazzo 1.4
Blocks	JaVale McGee 1.25

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 27.32
Assists	Chris Paul 8.55
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 11.82
FG%	Ty-Shon Alexander 100
Steals	Chris Paul 1.15
Blocks	Deandre Ayton 1.09

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Suns Team Leaders

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 26.36
Assists	Nikola Jokic 8.32
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 10.83
FG%	Nikola Jokic 56.6
Steals	Jamal Murray 1.33
Blocks	JaVale McGee 1.08

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 25.55
Assists	Chris Paul 8.89
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 10.54
FG%	Deandre Ayton 62.6
Steals	Chris Paul 1.41
Blocks	Deandre Ayton 1.17

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 29.8
Assists	Monte Morris 5.5
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 11.6
FG%	Vlatko Cancar 100
Steals	Facundo Campazzo 1.4
Blocks	JaVale McGee 1.25

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 27.32
Assists	Chris Paul 8.55
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 11.82
FG%	Ty-Shon Alexander 100
Steals	Chris Paul 1.15
Blocks	Deandre Ayton 1.09

Injuries

Denver

Michael Porter Jr. (PF)

Prob Wed Back - 09 / 06 / 21

Austin Rivers (PG)

Prob Sat Illness - 21 / 05 / 21

Paul Millsap (PF)

Out Fri Rest - 14 / 05 / 21

Facundo Campazzo (PG)

Out Fri Rest - 14 / 05 / 21

Aaron Gordon (PF)

Out Fri Rest - 14 / 05 / 21

Monte Morris (PG)

Out Thurs Rest - 13 / 05 / 21

Michael Porter Jr. (PF)

Out Thurs Rest - 13 / 05 / 21

Aaron Gordon (PF)

Prob Tues Calf - 09 / 05 / 21

PJ Dozier (SG)

Late June Groin - 04 / 05 / 21

Zeke Nnaji (PF)

Ques Sat Ankle - 30 / 04 / 21

Phoenix

Torrey Craig (SF)

Prob Sun Knee - 09 / 07 / 21

Dario Saric (SF)

Out indefinitely Knee - 06 / 07 / 21

Cameron Johnson (PF)

Ques Tues Illness - 30 / 06 / 21

Cameron Payne (PG)

Prob Sat Ankle - 25 / 06 / 21

Cameron Payne (PG)

day-to-day Ankle - 24 / 06 / 21

Ty-Shon Alexander (PG)

Ques Wed Illness - 03 / 06 / 21

Jae Crowder (SF)

Out Sun Rest - 16 / 05 / 21

Deandre Ayton (C)

Prob Sun Knee - 13 / 05 / 21

Cameron Johnson (PF)

Prob Sun Wrist - 06 / 05 / 21

Cameron Johnson (PF)

Prob Sun Wrist - 02 / 05 / 21

Injuries

Denver

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Michael Porter Jr. (PF)	Prob Wed	Back - 09 / 06 / 21	0-3	1-2	+ -
Porter Jr. is expected to take on the Suns in Game 2 of the Western Conference second round despite a back injury.
Austin Rivers (PG)	Prob Sat	Illness - 21 / 05 / 21	4-6	7-3	+ -
Rivers is ailing from an illness, but it is anticipated that he will take on the Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Paul Millsap (PF)	Out Fri	Rest - 14 / 05 / 21	6-6	7-5	+ -
Millsap will not take the court versus the Pistons on Friday as he will be handed a day of rest.
Facundo Campazzo (PG)	Out Fri	Rest - 14 / 05 / 21	6-6	7-5	+ -
Campazzo will be held out of the lineup against the Pistons on Friday as he will receive a day of rest.
Aaron Gordon (PF)	Out Fri	Rest - 14 / 05 / 21	6-6	7-5	+ -
Gordon will not be available for Friday's matchup with the Pistons as he will be given a day of rest.
Monte Morris (PG)	Out Thurs	Rest - 13 / 05 / 21	6-7	8-5	+ -
Morris will not be available for Thursday's contest versus the Timberwolves as he will be given a day of rest.
Michael Porter Jr. (PF)	Out Thurs	Rest - 13 / 05 / 21	6-7	8-5	+ -
Porter Jr. will not take the court against the Timberwolves on Thursday as he will receive a day of rest.
Aaron Gordon (PF)	Prob Tues	Calf - 09 / 05 / 21	6-9	10-5	+ -
Gordon is dealing with right calf tightness, but he is likely to suit up for Tuesday's battle against the Hornets.
PJ Dozier (SG)	Late June	Groin - 04 / 05 / 21	8-10	10-8	+ -
Dozier is sidelined with a right adductor strain, and he is not expected to be available until the later part of June.
Zeke Nnaji (PF)	Ques Sat	Ankle - 30 / 04 / 21	9-11	11-9	+ -
Nnaji has sat out the previous four games due to a sprained left ankle, and it is up in the air if he will take the court versus the Nets on Saturday.

Phoenix

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Torrey Craig (SF)	Prob Sun	Knee - 09 / 07 / 21	2-3	3-1-1	+ -
Craig is bothered by a right knee contusion, but it is anticipated that he will take the court in Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Bucks.
Dario Saric (SF)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 06 / 07 / 21	3-3	4-1-1	+ -
Saric has torn his right ACL and he will miss an extended period.
Cameron Johnson (PF)	Ques Tues	Illness - 30 / 06 / 21	3-4	5-1-1	+ -
Johnson is ailing from an illness, and it is unclear if he will take on the Bucks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Cameron Payne (PG)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 25 / 06 / 21	4-6	5-4-1	+ -
Payne is nursing a left ankle sprain, but it is anticipated that he will be available for Game 4 of the Western Conference final versus the Clippers.
Cameron Payne (PG)	day-to-day	Ankle - 24 / 06 / 21	4-6	5-4-1	+ -
Payne was lifted from Thursday's game with a left ankle injury, and he will not return.
Ty-Shon Alexander (PG)	Ques Wed	Illness - 03 / 06 / 21	11-6	9-7-1	+ -
Alexander is ailing from an illness, and it is uncertain if he will be active for Game 2 of the Western Conference second round against the Nuggets.
Jae Crowder (SF)	Out Sun	Rest - 16 / 05 / 21	14-8	11-10-2	+ -
Crowder will not suit up for Sunday's tilt against the Spurs, as he will be given a day of rest.
Deandre Ayton (C)	Prob Sun	Knee - 13 / 05 / 21	14-10	12-11-2	+ -
Ayton is dealing with left knee soreness, but it is anticipated that he will be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Lakers.
Cameron Johnson (PF)	Prob Sun	Wrist - 06 / 05 / 21	15-12	15-11-2	+ -
Johnson has been out of commission due to a right wrist sprain, but he is expected to take on the Lakers in the Western Conference first round.
Cameron Johnson (PF)	Prob Sun	Wrist - 02 / 05 / 21	17-13	18-11-2	+ -
Johnson is tending to a sprained right wrist, but he is likely to take the court Sunday versus the Thunder.