The Golden State Warriors had no issues dismissing their biggest challenge to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with a lopsided win over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. Now they will try to gain a little more ground on them against an opponent they should have no problem taking down. The Warriors will host the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night and are a whopping 16-point favorite. However, the Warriors are just 3-3 in their last six, so they can’t afford to slipup here.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

After an absolutely brutal stretch in which they lost 17 in a row spanning from January in to February, Phoenix has shown signs of life with wins in four of its last six. The Suns are an NBA-worst 5-29 on the road this season and are just 1-6 against the spread in their last seven away games.

Meanwhile, Golden State is 24-9 at home so far this season. Two of the Warriors last three losses came versus teams with losing records in the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat. Golden State is 27-12 versus Western Conference opponents so far this season. The Warriors were just 1-9 against the spread in their previous 10 games before Friday night’s lopsided win over the Nuggets.

Phoenix Suns

It’s no secret how Phoenix has heated up over the past couple of weeks. Devin Booker has led the way with 26.7 points per game over the period two weeks heading into last night’s game before adding 23 against the Trail Blazers. Meanwhile, Kelly Oubre Jr. has stepped up big time with 18.0 points per game as he’s really broken out. The fact that the Suns have shown signs of life is a definite positive for a fan base that has watched them struggle all season. However, it’s unreasonable to expect Phoenix to go on the road and beat the league’s best team on their own floor. The question is whether or not they can cover. Given how they’ve played recently, one might say there’s a good chance but they’re in a back-to-back situation.

The Suns are 3-5 ATS in their last eight as a road dog of 12.5 or more points.

Golden State Warriors

As good as they’ve been this season, the Warriors can’t afford a letdown the rest of the way as they attempt to lock up home court advantage for the playoffs. Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson have each averaged over 24.0 points per game over the past two weeks. The problem is that Golden State had been giving up too many points. That changed in Friday night’s lopsided win over Denver and the hope is that becomes a spark for this team.

Golden State is a huge favorite in this spot but they’ve done well in this role this season. They are 55-3 in their last 58 as a home favorite of 12.5 or more and they’ve covered six of eight games in that role this season.

Injuries

Phoenix

Richaun Holmes (PF)

Out Tues Ankle - 04 / 04 / 19

Devin Booker (SG)

out for season Ankle - 03 / 04 / 19

Richaun Holmes (PF)

Prob Mon Migraine - 31 / 03 / 19

Josh Jackson (SF)

Prob Sat Ankle - 22 / 03 / 19

Kelly Oubre Jr. (SF)

out for season Thumb - 18 / 03 / 19

Richaun Holmes (PF)

Prob Thurs Quadricep - 16 / 03 / 19

Tyler Johnson (SG)

out for season Knee - 14 / 03 / 19

Devin Booker (SG)

Prob Fri Toe - 28 / 02 / 19

De'Anthony Melton (PG)

Ques Sat Ankle - 21 / 02 / 19

Tyler Johnson (SG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 12 / 02 / 19

Golden State

Kevon Looney (C)

Prob Thurs Collarbone - 11 / 06 / 19

Kevon Looney (C)

Ques Fri Collarbone - 02 / 06 / 19

Andre Iguodala (SF)

Prob Sun Calf - 31 / 05 / 19

Shaun Livingston (PG)

Prob Thurs Knee - 27 / 05 / 19

Andre Iguodala (SF)

Prob Thurs Calf - 19 / 05 / 19

Kevon Looney (C)

Prob Thurs Knee - 15 / 05 / 19

Andre Iguodala (SF)

Prob Wed Knee - 07 / 05 / 19

Shaun Livingston (PG)

Prob Wed Hip - 07 / 05 / 19

Draymond Green (PF)

Prob Wed Wrist - 21 / 04 / 19

DeMarcus Cousins (C)

Prob Thurs Quadricep - 16 / 04 / 19

Injuries

Phoenix

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Richaun Holmes (PF)	Out Tues	Ankle - 04 / 04 / 19	2-2	3-1	+ -
Holmes missed his second-consecutive game with a sprained left ankle and will not be in Tuesday's lineup versus the Mavericks.
Devin Booker (SG)	out for season	Ankle - 03 / 04 / 19	2-2	3-1	+ -
Booker is sidelined with a left ankle sprain and will miss the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
Richaun Holmes (PF)	Prob Mon	Migraine - 31 / 03 / 19	2-4	5-1	+ -
Holmes is dealing with a migraine but is projected to be in Monday's lineup versus the Cavaliers.
Josh Jackson (SF)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 22 / 03 / 19	3-7	6-4	+ -
Jackson has missed the previous three games due to a right ankle sprain but is expected to return to the court against the Grizzlies on Saturday.
Kelly Oubre Jr. (SF)	out for season	Thumb - 18 / 03 / 19	4-7	7-4	+ -
Oubre Jr. is recovering from a minor procedure on his left thumb and will miss the remainder of the season.
Richaun Holmes (PF)	Prob Thurs	Quadricep - 16 / 03 / 19	5-7	7-5	+ -
Holmes missed his second-straight game with a right quadriceps strain but it is expected he will participate in Thursday's tilt against the Pistons.
Tyler Johnson (SG)	out for season	Knee - 14 / 03 / 19	6-8	7-7	+ -
Johnson has been out of commission after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and will miss the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
Devin Booker (SG)	Prob Fri	Toe - 28 / 02 / 19	11-9	10-10	+ -
Booker has a sprained left big toe but it is likely he will suit up against the Pelicans on Friday.
De'Anthony Melton (PG)	Ques Sat	Ankle - 21 / 02 / 19	11-12	11-12	+ -
Melton has been held out of action due to a right ankle sprain and it is undetermined if he will draw back into the lineup against the Hawks on Saturday.
Tyler Johnson (SG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 12 / 02 / 19	11-13	11-13	+ -
Johnson is battling a sprained right ankle but it is not expected to impede his status for Wednesday's contest against the Clippers.

Golden State

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Kevon Looney (C)	Prob Thurs	Collarbone - 11 / 06 / 19	0-1	0-2	+ -
Looney is expected to play in Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Raptors despite leaving the last game after aggravating his right first costal cartilage non-displaced fracture.
Kevon Looney (C)	Ques Fri	Collarbone - 02 / 06 / 19	1-3	3-2	+ -
Looney suffered a right first costal cartilage non-displaced fracture to his collarbone and it is unknown if he will return against the Raptors in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Andre Iguodala (SF)	Prob Sun	Calf - 31 / 05 / 19	1-3	4-2	+ -
Iguodala is nursing left calf soreness but it is likely he will play against the Raptors in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
Shaun Livingston (PG)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 27 / 05 / 19	1-3	4-2	+ -
Livingston is expected to play against the Raptors in Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite a sore left knee.
Andre Iguodala (SF)	Prob Thurs	Calf - 19 / 05 / 19	2-4	5-3	+ -
Iguodala is dealing with tightness in his left calf but is expected to be available for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Raptors.
Kevon Looney (C)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 15 / 05 / 19	4-4	6-4	+ -
Looney is likely to partake in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals against the Trail Blazers despite left knee soreness.
Andre Iguodala (SF)	Prob Wed	Knee - 07 / 05 / 19	4-7	7-5-1	+ -
Iguodala has a hyperextended left knee but is expected to play in Game 5 of the Western Conference second round against the Rockets.
Shaun Livingston (PG)	Prob Wed	Hip - 07 / 05 / 19	4-7	7-5-1	+ -
Livingston is battling soreness in his left hip but is likely to suit up against the Rockets in Game 5 of the Western Conference second round.
Draymond Green (PF)	Prob Wed	Wrist - 21 / 04 / 19	7-10	11-7-1	+ -
Green is nursing a right wrist injury but is projected to suit up against the Clippers in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round.
DeMarcus Cousins (C)	Prob Thurs	Quadricep - 16 / 04 / 19	8-11	12-8-1	+ -
Cousins will be available for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Raptors after recovering from a tear in his left quadriceps.

Suns vs. Warriors Prediction