The Denver Nuggets (13-5) and Phoenix Suns (12-8) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 9:00 p.m. EST from Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz. The game will broadcast live on ALT.
The Nuggets are -3.5 favorites over the Suns on the spread (Nuggets -3.5), with the over/under set at 231.5 total points. Denver is a -170 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Phoenix is +145 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Nuggets vs. Suns predictions and NBA picks for Saturday, November 29.
My Nuggets vs Suns Prediction
- Nuggets vs Suns pick: Suns +3.5 (-110)
My Suns vs Nuggets best bet is on Phoenix to cover the spread, with the best price currently available at bet365. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Nuggets vs Suns Odds
| Nuggets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -110 | 231.5 -115o / -105u | -170 |
| Suns Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -110 | 231.5 -115o / -105u | +145 |
Nuggets vs Suns NBA Preview
The Nuggets face a quick turnaround when they travel to Phoenix to take on the Suns. Both teams will be on short rest after suffering losses on Friday night.
Denver lost 139-136 at home to the Spurs, while the Suns fell just short on the road in a 123-119 defeat to the Thunder, who hold the best record in the league at 19-1.
This will be the second meeting between the Nuggets and Suns, after Denver won 133-111 in their last matchup back in October.
Yet, this version of Phoenix might look different from the one Denver faced over a month ago. After all, the season had just gotten underway, and the Suns were still trying to figure out their rotation.
Phoenix began the game with a starting five of Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighodaro and Dillon Brooks. However, Ighodaro has managed only four starts compared to 11 for Dunn.
The Suns have made changes since, with Royce O'Neale making 16 starts and Mark Williams not far behind with 14.
It's worth noting that after a 1-4 start, Phoenix has won 11 of its last 15 games.
Allen is a big part of the Suns' offense as the team's third-leading scorer with 18.5 points per game. Although a quad injury has forced him to miss the last seven games, he could return to action against the Nuggets. Dunn could also be back on the sidelines after missing four games with a wrist injury.
The Suns have gotten younger following the departure of Kevin Durant. They've now gone from having the oldest roster in the league with an average age of 28, down to 13th (26.0).
One area where Phoenix's youth particularly shines is on defense, as the team ranks 10th overall in efficiency, allowing 112.3 points per 100 possessions. Phoenix will particularly need to be at its best against a Nuggets team that boasts the best offense with a 123.1 rating.
Nuggets vs Suns Prediction, Betting Analysis
While Denver is clearly ahead of Phoenix in the power ratings, the short rest for both teams might be enough to level the playing field somewhat.
The Suns were embarrassed in their earlier meeting, losing by 22 points, making this a clear situational spot to exact some revenge. Earlier, we saw Phoenix lose 129-102 to the Clippers, then bounce back with double-digit victories in its next two head-to-head meetings.
Saturday's game feels like a similar spot with Phoenix now playing much better following a slow start. When you couple the Suns' overall improvement with their rotational changes, there's plenty of room for optimism if you're a Phoenix backer.
For a team that has the second-best mark against the spread at 14-6, the Suns appear undervalued as home underdogs.
Although this line opened with Denver laying 5.5 points, my model suggests the number should be closer to -3.
I can only look to take the points with the home side.
Pick: Suns +3.5 (-110, bet365)
Suns vs Nuggets Betting Trends
