Phoenix Suns vs Denver Nuggets 5/9/2023 Odds, Expert Picks and Tips
West Semifinals – Game 5, Series tied 2-2
The Denver Nuggets are gearing up to host the Phoenix Suns at Mile High City on Tuesday for Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinals best-of-seven series. The series was leveled at 2-2 after Phoenix clinched a thrilling 129-124 victory over Denver in Game 4 on Sunday night. Both Devin Booker and Kevin Durant were exceptional in the game, scoring 36 points each. Booker’s postseason tally now stands at 331 points through nine games, the highest since Michael Jordan in 1990.
Booker has been the standout performer for Phoenix during the postseason, leading the team in scoring with an average of 36.9 points per game. Kevin Durant has been a close second, with an average of 29.3 points per game. Deandre Ayton has been a force to be reckoned with on the boards, averaging 10.0 rebounds per game, while Chris Paul has been instrumental in distributing the ball, with an average of 7.4 assists per game. Phoenix’s offensive prowess has been on full display in the postseason, with the team averaging 115.6 points per game.
- The Phoenix Suns are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games on the road against Denver.
- The total went OVER in 9 of the Suns’ last 12 games with a team in the West.
- The total hung OVER in 5 of Phoenix’s last 6 games with a team in the Northwest Division.
Phoenix Suns vs Denver Nuggets 5/9/2023 Odds, Expert Picks and Tips
The Nuggets will look to take advantage of their home court on Tuesday in Game 5 and move one win away from advancing to the next round against the Suns. They will need another big performance from Nikola Jokic, who dropped 53 points on 20-of-30 shooting in their last game, a five-point loss to Phoenix. Jamal Murray also had a solid game with 28 points and seven assists for Denver. Jokic was involved in a heated exchange with Mat Ishbia, the Suns’ owner, on the sidelines and received a technical foul.
Center Nikola Jokic has been dominant in the playoffs, leading Denver in scoring, rebounding, and assists with 28.0 points, 14.2 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game, just as he did in the regular season. Jamal Murray is the second-best scorer with 26.7 points per game, and he is joined by four other Nuggets who are averaging double figures in scoring. The Nuggets have been scoring 113.4 points per game in the postseason.
- The total went OVER in 4 of Denver’s last 5 matches with the Suns.
- The Denver Nuggets are 7-0 SU in their last 7 games at home.
- Denver is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games at home against Phoenix.
Phoenix Suns vs Denver Nuggets. The NHL Pick for this contest is the Denver Nuggets. Denver will bounce back with a victory at home on Tuesday in Game 5 and get a 3-2 series lead, but the smarter wager is OVER. The OVER has cashed in 19 of Phoenix’s last 28 games, in six of Denver’s last eight games, and in four of the last five games between Phoenix and Denver. The OVER has cashed in the last two games of this series as well. Phoenix is shooting 49.8% in the postseason, while Denver is shooting 47.4%. My prediction: Denver Nuggets win but take the OVER 121-112.
NBA Starting Time: 10:00 PM ET
Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA
Date: Tuesday, May 9, 2023
TV: TNT
NBA Odds/Point Spread: Denver Nuggets -5.5
NBA Totals: 227.5
