Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns Prediction: Will the home team manage to win?

Nikola Jokic missed two games against Phoenix in the regular season, but he came to the floor and helped Denver beat that opponent in the other two. However, Jokic has yet to appear against the reborn Suns, and it will be exciting to watch the teams face off in the 2nd round of the playoffs. The bookmakers slightly prefer Phoenix in the entire series, while the Nuggets are favorites to win the opening game. Will the home team manage to win?

Denver handled Minnesota in 5 games in the 1st round of the playoffs, but you can't say the Nuggets had it so easy. The Colorado club took the decisive game at the end, and before that, they lost in overtime. Denver's defense greatly helped their success: In the current playoffs, the team ranks sixth in the NBA defensive rankings so far. On the offensive end, they're doing just fine. Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic are averaging 25+ points and over 40% three-point shooting. Michael Porter Jr. also shoots well, while Aaron Gordon and Bruce Brown are hitting at least 50%. The way Denver values the ball is also pleasing, averaging just 12 turnovers per game, their best performance of the current postseason.

The last game against Minnesota ended in a 112:109 victory, the Nuggets' 5th straight in 6 games. Jamal Murray had a great game, making the difficult shots with 35 points. Things weren't as rosy for Nikola Jokic, but he pulled himself together at the critical moment and scored the decisive points. Nikola hit an anomalous 29 shots from the field, 8 of them accurate. Only in the final quarter did Porter Jr. step up, and one of his three-pointers prevented his opponent from changing the course of the game.

Devin Booker is arguably their best player of the current playoffs. Booker is averaging 37.2 points per game, 2nd best in the league behind Jimmy Butler. Devin is scoring tough shots; the Clippers have been unable to do anything on defense. Kevin Durant is also excellent (28.4 points per game, 45.8% from beyond the arc), and Torrey Craig has become the most crucial role player for the Suns. As far as team statistics are concerned, Phoenix shoots the fewest three-pointers but ranks No. 2 in 3-pointers made.

In the deciding game against the Clippers, the team led by as many as 20 points early in the 4th quarter but nearly lost the lead. Chris Paul made several critical three-pointers, and Deandre Ayton had one of his best offensive performances of the playoffs.

The Suns are missing a lot from the paint, and Nikola Jokic can take more shots. Phoenix stopped Denver in the playoffs before last by shutting down Jokic; that will be harder now, as the Nuggets' main star has many quality role players gathered around him. Phoenix lacked chemistry and pulled last year's series through individual performances by their stars. Since the Suns had problems against the Clippers, who played without Kawai Leonard and Paul George, it will be even more difficult against the Western Conference winner.