The Phoenix Suns took off late in the third quarter and pulled away from the Denver Nuggets to draw first blood in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals after a 122-105 victory. Although the Nuggets controlled most of the first half, they started to crumble after Chris Paul and the rest of the Suns’ squad started to gain traction and turned the game around to defend their home court.

Meanwhile, MVP contender Nikola Jokic was limited to 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks thanks to the efforts of their opponent’s defense. The Nuggets will try to force a road win to tie the game before heading back to play in front of their home crowd.

Taking that into account, the NitroBetting news team brings you a preview of the Nuggets vs. Suns Game 2, featuring key team and player information, together with the latest NBA odds, betting trends, and betting predictions.

Nuggets vs. Suns Game 2 Information

• When: Wednesday, June 9, 2021, 9:30 PM ET
• Where: Phoenix Suns Arena, Phoenix, Arizona
• TV: NBA TV / ESPN
• Radio: Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM (Nuggets) // 98.7 ARIZONA SPORTS (Suns)
• Live Stream: NBA League Pass
• NBA Betting Odds: Phoenix Suns (-227) // O/U 223.0

READ MORE: Bucks vs. Nets 2021 NBA Playoffs Odds and Game 2 Pick – June 7th, 2021

Why Bet on the Denver Nuggets?

Even though the Nuggets matched the Suns in the first half of the game, they lost grip in the third quarter. A series of bad shots and the scruffy defense allowed the Suns to penetrate and create more open looks. Their 10-point lead was short-lived after their opponents triggered a 28-9 run before the final quarter.

As it stands, the Nuggets are being outplayed by the Suns in every aspect. They are behind in rebounds, assists, field goal percentage, and 3-point percentage. If they want to avoid the Suns catching on fire, the Nuggets have to dictate the tempo and try to contain their scorers as early as possible.

Three core players, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, and Facundo Campazzo came up short as well. Although all three players hit double-digit scores, it wasn’t enough to close down the gap the Suns created. The onus is on them in Game 2 to make things happen on the floor.

Why Bet on the Phoenix Suns?

The Suns accomplished inspired efforts to take the lead away from the Nuggets in the third quarter and take the first win of the series. Mikal Bridges added spark to the offense and led a lengthy run to close off the third quarter. Bridges recorded 11 points for the Suns during the run and finished the game with 23 points to his name.

Devin Booker had a relatively quiet night and let the rest of his team chip in, but managed to list down 21 points on 8-12 shooting and handed out 8 assists. Deandre Ayton also held his post, recording 20 points and 10 boards in 36 minutes of play.

Ultimately, Chris Paul took control of the game and orchestrated players for his team left and right. The veteran guard was able to dish out 11 assists and contribute 21 points with an extra 6 rebounds. We expect him to play a crucial role in Game 2 as he begins to return to 100% following a minor shoulder injury in the first round.

Nuggets vs. Suns Betting Trends

• The Nuggets are 5-5 in their last 10 away games.
• The Nuggets are 5-5 against the spread in their last 10 away games.
• The totals have gone over 4 times in the Nuggets’ last 5 games.
• The Suns are 8-2 in their last 10 home games.
• The Suns are 3-2 against the spread in their last 5 home games.
• The totals have gone under 5 times in the Suns’ last 10 games.

Nuggets vs. Suns Expert Betting Prediction

The Nuggets have the firepower to overcome the Suns, but they have to play their cards right in the next game to get the upper hand. If they can execute the necessary changes, there’s no reason for this team not to cover the spread and threaten to take the road win. However, at this pace, the Suns are the favorites coming in Game 2.

If they continue to deliver quality performance from both ends of the court, there’s a possibility that they take the 2-0 lead before heading out to Denver for Game 3. Nonetheless, we look forward to another intense Nuggets vs. Suns battle on Friday.

This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at NitroBetting news. Stay tuned for more NBA game previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest Basketball betting odds on the sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.