A preview of a possible NBA Finals matchup highlights the Saturday schedule, as the Eastern Conference-leading Brooklyn Nets host the red-hot Phoenix Suns. The Nets have cemented their perch atop the conference standings with four straight wins, capped by Wednesday’s decisive 123-104 win Boston. The Suns have remained within striking distance of the first place in the West during an epic 15-game win streak that continued with a 118-97 rout of the New York Knicks on Friday night.

While Brooklyn holds a narrow edge in bettor support, it is the Suns who have made gains at the sportsbooks, climbing to narrow 1.5-point underdogs on the NBA odds board after opening at +3. With both clubs’ offences clicking, the total has also been on the rise, vaulting to 224.5 since opening at 221.0. However, the Under remains a slight -116 favourite.

Suns vs. Nets NBA Betting Odds

Saturday night’s matchup marks the first of two meetings this season between these clubs. The Nets extended their recent dominance over Phoenix with a pair of wins last season, lifting them head-to-head straight up record to 10-2 since March 2015. The club has also topped the Suns in seven of nine all-time meetings in Brooklyn and racked up an average of 119.6 points per game over the Suns’ past five visits. However, with the total getting regularly pegged well over 220 when these teams square off at Barclays Center, the Under has gone a reliable 7-2. Saturday’s clash marks the first time in 17 outings that Phoenix has been pegged as a betting underdog. The club has lost and failed to cover in four straight while sporting positive odds, a slide that began with last summer’s NBA Finals clash with Milwaukee.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns extended their current road win streak to seven games with Friday’s rout of the Knicks. Phoenix has averaged 117.7 points per game over the first three dates on their four-game Eastern swing. However, the Suns have failed to generate dividends for loyal sports bettors, covering just twice in their past eight overall wins. Devin Booker has continued to lead the Suns’ vaunted attack. The 25-year-old has saved his best performances for the road, averaging 33.5 points over his past two outings, and 24.8 points per game this season.

Brooklyn Nets

Wednesday’s win over the Celtics marked the Nets’ seventh victory this season by double-digit margins and improved their road record to 8-2. However, it has been a harder grind for Brooklyn at home, where they have gone 6-3 straight up, but have been a massive betting disappointment. The Nets are winless against the spread in their past three home dates and sport a middling 3-2 record when favoured at home by three or fewer points. However, sports bettors underestimate this club at their own peril. James Harden recorded a fourth straight double-double in Wednesday’s win, and Kevin Durant remains perched among the league leaders with 28.1 points per game. Close attention should also be paid to veteran point guard Patty Mills, who drained a game-high 23 points on Wednesday and averaged 20 points over his past six outings.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Suns vs. Nets?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Suns Team Leaders

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 26.79
Assists	Chris Paul 10.8
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 10.22
FG%	Deandre Ayton 63.4
Steals	Chris Paul 1.86
Blocks	JaVale McGee 1.09

BK

Points	Kevin Durant 29.87
Assists	Kevin Durant 6.38
Rebounds	Andre Drummond 10.29
FG%	Nic Claxton 67.4
Steals	Kyrie Irving 1.41
Blocks	Nic Claxton 1.09

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 23.3
Assists	Chris Paul 8.31
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 8.92
FG%	JaVale McGee 70
Steals	Chris Paul 1.46
Blocks	Mikal Bridges 1

BK

Points	Kevin Durant 26.25
Assists	Kevin Durant 6.25
Rebounds	Nic Claxton 6.25
FG%	Nic Claxton 79.2
Steals	Kyrie Irving 1.75
Blocks	Nic Claxton 2.25

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Nets Team Leaders

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 26.79
Assists	Chris Paul 10.8
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 10.22
FG%	Deandre Ayton 63.4
Steals	Chris Paul 1.86
Blocks	JaVale McGee 1.09

BK

Points	Kevin Durant 29.87
Assists	Kevin Durant 6.38
Rebounds	Andre Drummond 10.29
FG%	Nic Claxton 67.4
Steals	Kyrie Irving 1.41
Blocks	Nic Claxton 1.09

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 23.3
Assists	Chris Paul 8.31
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 8.92
FG%	JaVale McGee 70
Steals	Chris Paul 1.46
Blocks	Mikal Bridges 1

BK

Points	Kevin Durant 26.25
Assists	Kevin Durant 6.25
Rebounds	Nic Claxton 6.25
FG%	Nic Claxton 79.2
Steals	Kyrie Irving 1.75
Blocks	Nic Claxton 2.25

Injuries

Phoenix

Jae Crowder (SF)

Prob Thurs Shoulder - 11 / 05 / 22

Jae Crowder (SF)

day-to-day Leg - 08 / 05 / 22

Torrey Craig (SF)

Prob Tues Elbow - 06 / 05 / 22

Landry Shamet (PG)

Prob Sun Foot - 15 / 04 / 22

Deandre Ayton (C)

Out Sun Rest - 10 / 04 / 22

Jae Crowder (SF)

Out Sun Rest - 10 / 04 / 22

Cameron Payne (PG)

Prob Sun Knee - 09 / 04 / 22

Deandre Ayton (C)

Ques Fri Ankle - 06 / 04 / 22

Jae Crowder (SF)

Ques Fri Ankle - 06 / 04 / 22

Deandre Ayton (C)

Out Sun Rest - 02 / 04 / 22

Brooklyn

Blake Griffin (PF)

Prob Sat Ankle - 22 / 04 / 22

Seth Curry (SG)

Prob Tues Ankle - 10 / 04 / 22

Seth Curry (SG)

Prob Fri Ankle - 07 / 04 / 22

James Johnson (PF)

Ques Fri Illness - 04 / 04 / 22

Goran Dragic (PG)

Prob Tues Conditioning - 02 / 04 / 22

Bruce Brown (PG)

Prob Tues Illness - 01 / 04 / 22

Seth Curry (SG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 01 / 04 / 22

Seth Curry (SG)

Ques Sun Ankle - 27 / 03 / 22

Goran Dragic (PG)

Prob Sun Knee - 27 / 03 / 22

Goran Dragic (PG)

Prob Sat Knee - 23 / 03 / 22

Injuries

Phoenix

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jae Crowder (SF)	Prob Thurs	Shoulder - 11 / 05 / 22	1-2	0-3	+ -
Crowder is battling a left shoulder injury, but it is expected that he will face the Mavericks in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Jae Crowder (SF)	day-to-day	Leg - 08 / 05 / 22	1-3	0-4	+ -
Crowder exited Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals versus the Mavericks due to a leg injury, and it is unknown if he will return.
Torrey Craig (SF)	Prob Tues	Elbow - 06 / 05 / 22	2-3	1-4	+ -
Craig is nursing a right elbow contusion, but it is projected that he will play the Mavericks in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Landry Shamet (PG)	Prob Sun	Foot - 15 / 04 / 22	7-6	6-7	+ -
Shamet is bothered by a left foot sprain, but it is likely that he will be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Pelicans.
Deandre Ayton (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 10 / 04 / 22	8-6	6-8	+ -
Ayton will not be active for Sunday's clash versus the Kings as he will be handed a day of rest.
Jae Crowder (SF)	Out Sun	Rest - 10 / 04 / 22	8-6	6-8	+ -
Crowder will not be available against the Kings on Sunday as he will have a day of rest.
Cameron Payne (PG)	Prob Sun	Knee - 09 / 04 / 22	9-6	6-9	+ -
Payne is dealing with right knee soreness, and it is projected that he will suit up for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the winner of the Play-In.
Deandre Ayton (C)	Ques Fri	Ankle - 06 / 04 / 22	9-8	6-11	+ -
Ayton missed the previous outing with a sore right ankle, and it is unknown if he will suit up against the Jazz on Friday.
Jae Crowder (SF)	Ques Fri	Ankle - 06 / 04 / 22	9-8	6-11	+ -
Crowder sat out the previous game with a sore right ankle, and it is uncertain if he will be available Friday against the Jazz.
Deandre Ayton (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 02 / 04 / 22	9-9	7-11	+ -
Ayton will not dress for Sunday's matchup versus the Thunder as he will receive a day of rest.

Brooklyn

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Blake Griffin (PF)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 22 / 04 / 22	0-2	0-2	+ -
Griffin is tending to a sprained left ankle, but it is projected that he will face the Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Seth Curry (SG)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 10 / 04 / 22	2-3	2-3	+ -
Curry is dealing with left ankle soreness, but it is projected that he will be active in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Play-In against the Cavaliers.
Seth Curry (SG)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 07 / 04 / 22	3-3	2-4	+ -
Curry is tending to a sprained left ankle, but it is projected that he will suit up against the Cavaliers on Friday.
James Johnson (PF)	Ques Fri	Illness - 04 / 04 / 22	3-5	2-6	+ -
Johnson has missed the last two games due to an non-COVID-19 illness, and it is undetermined if he will take the floor against the Cavaliers on Friday.
Goran Dragic (PG)	Prob Tues	Conditioning - 02 / 04 / 22	3-6	2-7	+ -
Dragic has cleared the league's health and safety protocol, and it is anticipated that he will line up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Play-In versus the Cavaliers.
Bruce Brown (PG)	Prob Tues	Illness - 01 / 04 / 22	3-6	2-7	+ -
Brown was held out of the last contest due to a non-COVID illness, but it is expected that he will be active for Tuesday's clash with the Rockets.
Seth Curry (SG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 01 / 04 / 22	3-6	2-7	+ -
Curry has sat out the last two games with a left ankle sprain, but it is anticipated that he will face the Knicks on Wednesday.
Seth Curry (SG)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 27 / 03 / 22	4-8	3-9	+ -
Curry is hindered by a left ankle sprain, and it is unclear if he will be active against the Hornets on Sunday.
Goran Dragic (PG)	Prob Sun	Knee - 27 / 03 / 22	4-8	3-9	+ -
Dragic is dealing with a sore left knee, but it is expected that he will battle the Hornets on Sunday.
Goran Dragic (PG)	Prob Sat	Knee - 23 / 03 / 22	5-9	4-10	+ -
Dragic sat out the last contest with a sore left knee, but it is expected that he will battle the Heat on Saturday.