Nuggets-Suns Game 2 odds: Betting line holds in Phoenix’s favor

The Suns enter Game 2 against the Denver Nuggets as six-point favorites Wednesday, the same as the Game 1 opening line that Phoenix easily cleared with a 17-point win two days ago.

Some books have seen the line shrink to -5.5 as of early Wednesday morning.

The over/under for the game opened at 221 but since increased up to 223 at some books.

Between the two teams, the total has been over in six of the past seven meetings, and that would appear likely to trend in that direction again with Phoenix appearing to hit an offensive stride starting at the end of the first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Additionally, Denver is allowing 119.9 points per game in its seven playoff games — six games against the Portland Trail Blazers and one against Phoenix.

The Nuggets are 16-4 straight up in their last 20 games against the Suns, but Phoenix is 17-2 straight up in the past 19 home outings.

A 122-105 win Monday by Phoenix at home saw point guard Chris Paul flash improvement in his lingering shoulder injury. He had a 14-point fourth quarter to put Game 1 away as the Suns shot 54% from the field overall in arguably their best offensive performance through seven postseason games so far.

For Denver, newly minted MVP Nikola Jokic had a relatively pedestrian outing, scoring 22 points to go with nine rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Phoenix center Deandre Ayton played him well, finishing with 20 points and 10 boards himself.

The Nuggets also saw their postseason’s second-leading scorer, Michael Porter Jr., suffer a mild back injury. He is listed as questionable on the Game 2 injury report, though head coach Michael Malone has said he expects Porter to play.

In better news for Denver, wing Will Barton was upgraded from out to doubtful on the injury report heading into Wednesday.

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