Suns vs. Nuggets Prediction, Odds & Best Bet for NBA Playoffs Game 1 (Phoenix's Star Power Overwhelms Denver)

The 2022-23 NBA Playoffs continue on Saturday with Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets.

Which team will open the series with a win? Let's explore.

Suns vs. Nuggets Game Info

• Date: Saturday, April 29, 2023
• Time: TBD
• Venue: Ball Arena -- Denver, Colorado
• Coverage: TNT

Saturday's matchup will feature plenty of star power as two-time MVP Nikola Jokic leads the Nuggets against Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns. The Nuggets have been dominant on their home court all season, but they'll face a serious challenge from the loaded Suns in the series opener.

Suns vs. Nuggets Odds & Spread

• All NBA betting lines, odds and prop bets are from FanDuel Sportsbook.
• Moneyline: PHO: (+120) | DEN: (-142)
• Spread: PHO: +2.5 (-108) | DEN: -2.5 (-112)
• Total: 224.5 -- Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)

The Nuggets enter the series opener as slight home favorites on the spread and moneyline at FanDuel Sportsbook. This Saturday showdown also features a total of 224.5 points with both sides available at -110 odds.

Suns vs. Nuggets Betting Trends

• Denver is 37-7 straight up at home this season.
• Phoenix is 19-24 straight up on the road this season.
• The Nuggets are 28-16 against the spread at home this year.
• The Suns are 5-1 against the spread in their last six trips to Denver.

Suns vs. Nuggets Prediction & Pick

The Nuggets were the better team this season (hence the No. 1 seed), but the Suns have been the better team lately, especially since they traded for Durant.

Durant has simply taken Phoenix to the next level, similar to how he did when he joined the Golden State Warriors. The Suns are a staggering 12-1 with him on the court this year, as their starting lineup of KD, Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton is virtually unstoppable.

Jokic is a one-man wrecking crew and a walking triple-double for Denver, but he can't do it all by himself. The Nuggets don't have the firepower to keep up with Phoenix, especially after a five-game series with the Minnesota Timberwolves that was closer than it should have been.

Expect the Suns to continue their winning ways with Durant, especially after beating the Nuggets in their two most recent matchups.

Final Score Prediction: Suns: 117 | Nuggets: 109

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Suns vs. Nuggets Best Bet

The Suns are built for the playoffs, which they proved by taking four straight games from the Los Angeles Clippers after dropping the series opener. They've now won 11 of their last 14 games and appear to be peaking at the perfect time, going 4-1 on the road in that span.

The Nuggets, meanwhile, are 6-5 over their last 11 games and don't have the look of a title contender like Phoenix does. Take the Suns to extend their winning streak at plus odds.

Bet: Phoenix Suns ML (+120)

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.