The second quarter proved to be the difference maker in the first game. Any fan who missed the match and wonders how it finished 125-107 in favour of the Nuggets need to look no further than the sophomore quarter, which they won 37-19.

The NBA odds predict that the second contest will remain tight, with the Nuggets pegged as -4.5 favourites.

Suns vs. Nuggets NBA Playoffs Betting Odds

Denver’s 1-0 series lead has flipped the series odds. Entering Game 1 Phoenix was a slim favourite (-147)  but now the Nuggets hold a slight edge at -167 to their opponents’ +124. Monty Williams’ unit shouldn’t fret too much about being in a hole after a maiden match. They were in a similar position in the first round against the Clippers and came back with a run of four straight wins. Then again, there are major differences between the Kawhi-less Clippers and the number-one seed Nuggets.

The position is perhaps a little more delicate for the Nuggets. Less so because they have a series lead – always a good thing – but more so because their recent history is that of a strong side that’s yet to make it to the finals. The West is a tough conference, no question about it, but the Nuggets are but one of several teams who have struggled to do what the Golden State Warriors accomplish almost annually and the Suns did in 2021.

Needless to say Denver covered the spread in Game 1 by blowing out the Suns.

Phoenix Suns

This is an excellent group of players who can easily rebound from the Game 1 defeat. What’s more, when observing the stats by quarter, one realizes it was only the second that sunk them. They didn’t play poorly by any definition in the three others.

The 125-107 loss is even more surprising when considering that the Suns shot 51.2 per cent from the field to the Nuggets’ 47.5. What didn’t work was their three-point shooting, as they went only 30.4 per cent and only made 23 attempts. In fact, a certain inability to take shots was the story of the game, especially during the infamous second period. There were large stretches during which the Suns couldn’t find their shots, largely due to Nugget defenders fiercely hounding them. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker led the side with 29 and 27 points respectively but underperformed defensively with -20 and -18 differentials. Granted, no one played very good defence for the Suns in Game 1. Torrey Craig, who had made so many key buckets off the bench in the first round, only took three shots in 24 minutes.

Denver Nuggets

Game 1 felt a bit like business as usual for the Denver Nuggets. Not merely because they demolished a lot of clubs to earn the Western Conference number one seed, but because they started their first-round series versus the Timberwolves in much the same way.

Jamal Murray tallied a team-leading 34 points, bolstered by his 6-for-10 efficiency from beyond the arc. He was definitely in the mood on Saturday and got the crowd rocking several times. Time will tell how long Denver’s postseason run lasts, but so far Murray is making good on all the hype surrounding him from a few years ago. Nine assists look good on the stats sheet too. Nikola Jokic was a factor with 24 points and 19 rebounds, but it was an Aaron Gordon kind of game. 23 points and six rebounds help propel Denver to the win. Predicting that the Nuggets will lockdown the Suns the rest of the way is a little bold, but if they can limit the damage, they’ll be in good shape.

Game 2 Prediction: Who Will Win Suns vs. Nuggets?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Suns Team Leaders

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 27.75
Assists	Chris Paul 8.88
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 9.96
FG%	Deandre Ayton 58.9
Steals	Chris Paul 1.54
Blocks	Bismack Biyombo 1.44

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 24.49
Assists	Nikola Jokic 9.83
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 11.84
FG%	DeAndre Jordan 76.5
Steals	Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 1.47
Blocks	Aaron Gordon 0.75

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 33.73
Assists	Chris Paul 7.43
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 9.7
FG%	Jock Landale 63
Steals	Devin Booker 1.73
Blocks	Kevin Durant 1.36

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 30
Assists	Nikola Jokic 9.5
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 13.45
FG%	DeAndre Jordan 66.7
Steals	Jamal Murray 1.5
Blocks	Nikola Jokic 1

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Nuggets Team Leaders

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 27.75
Assists	Chris Paul 8.88
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 9.96
FG%	Deandre Ayton 58.9
Steals	Chris Paul 1.54
Blocks	Bismack Biyombo 1.44

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 24.49
Assists	Nikola Jokic 9.83
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 11.84
FG%	DeAndre Jordan 76.5
Steals	Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 1.47
Blocks	Aaron Gordon 0.75

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 33.73
Assists	Chris Paul 7.43
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 9.7
FG%	Jock Landale 63
Steals	Devin Booker 1.73
Blocks	Kevin Durant 1.36

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 30
Assists	Nikola Jokic 9.5
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 13.45
FG%	DeAndre Jordan 66.7
Steals	Jamal Murray 1.5
Blocks	Nikola Jokic 1

Injuries

Phoenix

Deandre Ayton (C)

Out Thurs Ribs - 10 / 05 / 23

Chris Paul (PG)

Out Thurs Groin - 02 / 05 / 23

Chris Paul (PG)

Out Sun Rest - 09 / 04 / 23

Deandre Ayton (C)

Out Sun Rest - 08 / 04 / 23

Bismack Biyombo (C)

Prob Sun Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

Devin Booker (SG)

Out Sun Rest - 08 / 04 / 23

Cameron Payne (PG)

Prob Tues Back - 08 / 04 / 23

Kevin Durant (SF)

Prob Sun Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23

Deandre Ayton (C)

Ques Sun Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

Devin Booker (SG)

Ques Sun Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

Denver

Jamal Murray (SG)

Ques Fri Hand - 08 / 06 / 23

Jamal Murray (SG)

Prob Tues Illness - 15 / 05 / 23

Jamal Murray (SG)

Prob Thurs Illness - 11 / 05 / 23

Aaron Gordon (PF)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 09 / 04 / 23

Jeff Green (SF)

Prob Sun Face - 09 / 04 / 23

Jamal Murray (SG)

Prob Sun Thumb - 09 / 04 / 23

Michael Porter Jr. (PF)

Prob Sun Heel - 09 / 04 / 23

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)

Prob Sun Illness - 09 / 04 / 23

Reggie Jackson (PG)

Prob Sun Back - 09 / 04 / 23

Michael Porter Jr. (PF)

Prob Sat Heel - 07 / 04 / 23

Injuries

Phoenix

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Deandre Ayton (C)	Out Thurs	Ribs - 10 / 05 / 23	1-1	1-1	+ -
Ayton is nursing a rib contusion, and he will not face the Nuggets in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Chris Paul (PG)	Out Thurs	Groin - 02 / 05 / 23	2-3	3-2	+ -
Paul is hobbled by a left groin strain, and he will not partake in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals versus the Nuggets.
Chris Paul (PG)	Out Sun	Rest - 09 / 04 / 23	5-7	8-3-1	+ -
Paul will sit out for Sunday's showdown with the Clippers for rest purposes.
Deandre Ayton (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 08 / 04 / 23	5-8	9-3-1	+ -
Ayton is taking a day of rest and will not be available Sunday versus the Clippers.
Bismack Biyombo (C)	Prob Sun	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	5-8	9-3-1	+ -
Biyombo is managing a right knee injury, but it is likely that he will suit up against the Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Devin Booker (SG)	Out Sun	Rest - 08 / 04 / 23	5-8	9-3-1	+ -
Booker will not be in the lineup against the Clippers on Sunday as he will be taking a day of rest.
Cameron Payne (PG)	Prob Tues	Back - 08 / 04 / 23	5-8	9-3-1	+ -
Payne has been idle with lower-back soreness, but it is anticipated that he will return to the court for Game 5 of the Western Conference against the Clippers.
Kevin Durant (SF)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23	5-8	9-3-1	+ -
Durant is tending to an ankle injury, but it is anticipated that he will participate versus the Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Deandre Ayton (C)	Ques Sun	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	6-8	9-4-1	+ -
Ayton missed the last game as he was given a day of rest, and it is uncertain if he will play versus the Clippers on Sunday.
Devin Booker (SG)	Ques Sun	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	6-8	9-4-1	+ -
Booker missed the last contest as he was given a day of rest, and it is undetermined if he will suit up on Sunday against the Clippers.

Denver

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jamal Murray (SG)	Ques Fri	Hand - 08 / 06 / 23	2-1	1-2	+ -
Murray is dealing with a left hand abrasion, and it is undetermined if he will be active for Game 4 of the NBA Finals versus the Heat.
Jamal Murray (SG)	Prob Tues	Illness - 15 / 05 / 23	6-3	3-6	+ -
Murray is managing an illness, but it is expected that he will be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals versus the Lakers.
Jamal Murray (SG)	Prob Thurs	Illness - 11 / 05 / 23	7-3	3-7	+ -
Murray is nursing an illness, but it is forecasted that he will be available for Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Suns.
Aaron Gordon (PF)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 09 / 04 / 23	13-8	10-10-1	+ -
Gordon is dealing with right shoulder inflammation, but it is projected that he will be in the lineup for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Timberwolves.
Jeff Green (SF)	Prob Sun	Face - 09 / 04 / 23	13-8	10-10-1	+ -
Green is hampered by a facial contusion, but it is not expected to affect his status for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Timberwolves.
Jamal Murray (SG)	Prob Sun	Thumb - 09 / 04 / 23	13-8	10-10-1	+ -
Murray is tending to a right thumb sprain, but it is not expected to affect his availability against the Timberwolves for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Michael Porter Jr. (PF)	Prob Sun	Heel - 09 / 04 / 23	13-8	10-10-1	+ -
Porter is managing a left heel injury, but it is anticipated that he will take to the court versus the Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)	Prob Sun	Illness - 09 / 04 / 23	13-8	10-10-1	+ -
Caldwell-Pope is ailing from a non-COVID illness, but it is expected that the symptoms will subside in time for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Timberwolves.
Reggie Jackson (PG)	Prob Sun	Back - 09 / 04 / 23	13-8	10-10-1	+ -
Jackson is hampered by lower back pain, but it is not expected to impact his status against the Kings on Sunday.
Michael Porter Jr. (PF)	Prob Sat	Heel - 07 / 04 / 23	14-9	11-11-1	+ -
Porter Jr. is hindered by a heel ailment, but he is expected to take the court against the Jazz on Saturday.