Suns vs Nuggets Game 2 Prediction & Best Bets

On Saturday, a dominant second quarter for the Denver Nuggets proved to be the difference as the West's top seed took a 1-0 lead over the Phoenix Suns in their Western Conference semifinal series.

Tonight, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and the fourth-seeded Suns will look to even things up as the two teams face off again at Ball Arena (10:00 pm ET, TNT).

In Saturday's series opener, Phoenix held a one-point lead after the first quarter. But Denver outscored them 37-19 in the second quarter, and 18 points would also end up being the final margin of victory in the Nuggets' 125-107 win.

Will this series move to Phoenix with Denver holding a 2-0 lead, or will it be all tied up after tonight? Read on for our Suns vs Nuggets Game 2 prediction, as well as our best bets for the matchup.

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Phoenix Suns vs Denver Nuggets Odds

Odds are via BetOnline as of Monday, May 1, 2023, at 5:00 pm ET.

Spread

• Phoenix Suns +4 (-110)
• Denver Nuggets -4 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 229 (-112)
• Under 229 (-108)

Moneyline

• Phoenix Suns +142
• Denver Nuggets -168

Will Magnificent Murray Maintain Scorching Stretch?

In Game 1, Nikola Jokic did Nikola Jokic things, recording 24 points, 19 rebounds, and five assists.

But the scoring star for the night for the fourth time in Denver's six playoff games was Jamal Murray, who scored 34 points and dished out nine assists. Murray was 6 of 10 from three and 13 of 21 overall from the field, and he also snagged five rebounds.

While Jokic is on the verge of potentially joining Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Larry Bird as the only players to be named NBA MVP three straight times, Murray is the puzzle piece that can be the difference between more playoff disappointment and the franchise's first trip to the NBA Finals.

Two seasons ago, he tore his ACL late in the regular season, and the Nuggets were swept in the second round by the Suns. Last season, he missed the entire season, and Denver went down to the Golden State Warriors in five games in the first round.

Now he is healthy again and back on the trajectory he was on before the ACL injury took him out of action for a year and a half.

Thus far in the postseason, he is averaging 28.3 points per game, 6.8 assists per game, and 5.5 rebounds per game, and he is shooting 48.4% from the field, 46.2% from three, and 91.7% from the charity stripe. Saturday's showing was his third 30-point effort of the playoffs and his tenth of the season.

If he produces another such performance tonight, the Nuggets will likely end the evening with a 2-0 lead over the Suns. When he has hit the 30-point mark this season, Denver is a perfect 10-0 SU, and they are also 8-2-0 against the spread.

If you expand to include games in which he has scored 24 or more points this season–which he has done four times in the playoffs and 26 times overall this season–the Nuggets are 23-3 SU and 17-9-0 ATS.

Phoenix Suns vs Denver Nuggets Prediction and Best Bets

Prediction for Suns vs Nuggets: Nuggets to win

Best Bets for Suns vs Nuggets: Nuggets -4 (Best Value: BetOnline)

Best Player Prop Bets for Suns vs Nuggets

• Jamal Murray over 24.5 points (Best Value: BetMGM)
• Jamal Murray over 31.5 points + assists (Best Value: Bovada Sportsbook)

Here are Murray's game-by-game numbers in the playoffs:

• vs Minnesota (Game 1): 24 points, eight rebounds, eight assists
• vs Minnesota (Game 2): 40 points, three rebounds, five assists
• at Minnesota (Game 3): 18 points, six rebounds, nine assists
• at Minnesota (Game 4): 19 points, seven rebounds, five assists
• vs Minnesota (Game 5): 35 points, four rebounds, five assists
• vs Phoenix (Game 1): 34 points, five rebounds, nine assists

For good measure, here's a bonus prop, also including Murray:

• Jamal Murray over 3.5 made threes (Best Value: BetOnline)

Murray has made four or more threes four times in the playoffs and 23 times total this season. Of those 23 times, 17 have been at home (out of 40 total home games), including all four in the playoffs. It may well not hit, but the value here–plus odds at all of our recommended sports betting sites–is way too good to pass up.

Where to Bet on Suns vs Nuggets

Here are four legal sports betting sites that we highly recommend and have reviewed, where you can bet on this year's NBA postseason action.

This is obviously a very popular time of year for NBA betting, and you can get in on the action at any of the top sports betting sites out there.

But these four books are all reputable names, and you can trust them with your betting funds.