The Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets resume their rivalry in the West when Kevin Durant and company host Nikola Jokic and crew in the desert.

Catch this game live on Friday, April 7, at 10:00 AM, Manila time

Away: Denver Nuggets (52-27/19-20 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Jamal Murray (DTD)
  • SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
  • SF: Michael Porter Jr.
  • PF: Aaron Gordon
  • C: Nikola Jokic (Questionable)

The Nuggets, the best team in the Western Conference, are coming off a loss at the hands of the worst team in the same conference, the Houston Rockets, last Wednesday on the road, 124-103. It was simply not Denver’s day, with even Nikola Jokic putting up a stinker by his lofty standards. He had 14 points and a plus-minus of -21. If anything, that loss can serve as a wake-up call for the Nuggets – a timely one at that, with the 2023 NBA Playoffs just around the corner. 

It’s also possible that the Nuggets just didn’t have the level of energy it would have brought to a game against a much more respectable opponent like the Suns. Denver is 2-1 this season against Phoenix, with the lone loss against the Suns being that 100-93 defeat on the road last Saturday when Jokic, Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Michael Porter J were not available. The Nuggets will not be as depleted this time around.

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Home: Phoenix Suns (44-35/27-12 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Chris Paul
  • SG: Devin Booker
  • SF: Josh Okogie
  • PF: Kevin Durant
  • C: Deandre Ayton

The Suns are peaking at just the right time. They are coming off a 115-94 demolition job of the tanking San Antonio Spurs at home Wednesday. That’s a great tuneup for Phoenix for this upcoming showdown against a potential opponent in the deeper rounds of the NBA Playoffs. Devin Booker and Kevin Durant are in great form and should spell trouble for Denver’s defense that just got abused by Houston. 

Durant has averaged 27.7 points on 60 percent shooting from the field in the last three Suns games, while Durant Booker has put up 25.3 points on 47.3 percent shooting from the floor over the same stretch. Durant is definitely a game-changer for a Suns team that was already loaded before he arrived in the desert in February. That’s worth noting especially because the two losses Phoenix has had versus Denver this season neither featured Durant. 

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Nuggets (+7) cover the spread.

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