The Phoenix Suns sent shockwaves across the NBA when they scored a mammoth upset Wednesday. Can they do that again this Tuesday versus the Denver Nuggets? The Nuggets are not going to make life easy for Phoenix, but can they prevent getting stunned by the Suns?
Catch this game live on Thursday, January 12, at 11 AM, Manila time
Away: Phoenix Suns (21-21/7-14 Away)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Duane Washington Jr.
- SG: Torrey Craig
- SF: Mikal Bridges
- PF: Dario Saric
- C: Deandre Ayton (questionable)
The Suns did the unthinkable (sort of) Wednesday, as they brought down the Golden State Warriors in a 125-113 upset win in the Bay Area. Making that win even more shocking is the fact that Phoenix defeated Stephen Curry and the Warriors despite missing Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton. Mikal Bridges starred for the Suns with a team-high 26 points, while Duane Washington Jr. started at PG and unloaded 21 points.
There is hope that Ayton will be able to play in the second leg of the Suns’ back-to-back schedule. The Suns are going to need Ayton to slow down Nikola Jokic, but if he can’t give it a go, Bismack Biyombo will be Phoenix’s sacrificial lamb in the frontcourt for the Nuggets big man. Biyombo’s not a bad asset, as he’s even a better rim protector than Ayton, though, the Suns are going to need Bridges and the rest to duplicate their performances in the Warriors game.
The Suns have covered the spread in seven of their last eight meetings with Denver.
Home: Denver Nuggets (27-13/17-3 Home)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Jamal Murray
- SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- SF: Michael Porter Jr.
- PF: Aaron Gordon
- C: Nikola Jokic
Unlike the Suns, the Nuggets will be coming off a full day of rest before hitting the court this Thursday. Plus, they don’t even have to travel, as this date with the Suns will be the finale of Denver’s three-game homestand. In their last outing, the Nuggets wallopped the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, 122-109. Jamal Murray mustered 34 points in that game, while Jokic had a relatively pedestrian output of 14 points, but completed a triple-double with 11 rebounds and 16 assists.
When the Nuggets beat Phoenix at home last December, 128-125, Jokic went off for 41 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists. Against a banged-up Suns this time around, don’t be surprised if Jokic puts together another hilariously ridiculous stat line. The Nuggets have all their main guns ready this Thursday, while the Suns will be playing on zero days of rest and in the second of their four-game road trip. Sounds like everything’s set up for a Denver victory.
The Nuggets are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games overall.
PREDICTIONS:
Spread: The Nuggets (-12) cover the spread.
Over/Under: The total (228.5) hits the Under.
