PHOENIX @ DENVER (DEN -7.5, 237.5)
NBA ODDS, NBA PREDICTIONS, NBA PREVIEWS
SUNS @ NUGGETS 3/7/25
As the regular season winds down, the Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets lock horns in a race for the playoffs. Denver can earn the second overall seed in the Western Conference, while Phoenix is just trying to cement a spot in the season’s playoffs.
With just 20 games left, the Suns are just at the edge of the play-in tourney, each game providing a valuable opportunity to climb up the ladder, starting with a showdown against the Nuggets tonight. The Suns beat the Clippers on Tuesday 119-117. It was a notable victory for the Clippers who bounced back from a 23-point deficit. The win was somewhat overshadowed by Suns’ star, Kevin Durant's fiery exchange with coach Mike Budenholzer during the game. Durant, however, downplayed the incident later.
Durant was a key player in the victorious comeback against the Clippers scoring 34 points. This season, Durant leads Phoenix in scoring with an average of 26.9 points per game. Trailing behind him are Devin Booker with an average of 25.9 points per game and Bradley Beal rounding out the top three with 17.6.
This Friday commences a crucial road trip for the Suns, competing against four teams ahead of them in the Western Conference standings. It also marks the last game between the Suns and Denver this season. The Nuggets have already clinched two victories out of three including a win at Phoenix on Feb. 8. However, Durant's absence due to an ankle injury, missing his average 26-point contribution, was duly noted in Phoenix's loss.
Heading into tonight, the Nuggets are dealing with injuries. Backup guard Julian Strawther is ruled out for at least four weeks due to a left knee sprain while Aaron Gordon has missed the last three matches owing to a sprained left ankle. However, Denver welcomed back Peyton Watson from a right knee injury during their win against Sacramento on Wednesday. Watson leads the team with an average of 1.2 blocks per game.
In Wednesday's victory, the Nuggets benefitted from a strong bench and an outstanding performance by Russell Westbrook, who manned the fort in Gordon's absence, scoring 25 points.
Westbrook's average is currently tied with Gordon at 12.9 points per game, and with Jamal Murray at the second spot in assists per match with 6.1. Jokic leads the Nuggets in scoring (28.8 ppg), rebounds (12.8) and assists (10.4) -- making him one of the top players in the NBA in each category. Other notable contributors include Murray averaging 21.4 points per game and Michael Porter Jr. with an 18.4-point average.
Get free NBA Picks and NBA Predictions for the top games on the weekly 2025 NBA schedule from JA Cavalier, one of the industry's premier expert NBA handicappers. J.A. Cavalier has been bringing the NBA betting community the best NBA free picks and predictions for nearly three decades. Visit daily for the best NBA moneyline and run line odds and game totals.
COACH RICK FREE PICK:
Game Total UNDER 237.5
Tonight’s total opened at 239 and is down a point and a half already. These two have historically played lower scoring games. The last 10 Suns-Nuggets games averaged 223.2 points per game. Each of hte three games played this year have gone Under the total with final scores that totaled 227, 210, and 207. It’s now five straight Unders when these two teams meet and five straight Unders when they played at Denver.