NBA Playoffs Game 1 betting preview for Suns vs. Nuggets

Jun 7, 2021, 10:50 AM | Updated: 12:10 pm

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives on Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

BY TOM KUEBEL

Arizona Sports

The Phoenix Suns come into Game 1 of their second round NBA playoff series on Monday as five-point favorites against the Denver Nuggets on Phoenix’s home floor.

Odds makers like the Suns to take an 1-0 early series lead and are -200 (2-to-1) to win the game outright on the moneyline, according to OddsShark.com.

Those odds are slightly worse than the Suns’ price to win the series, which was set at -205.

Although the last 10 matchups have favored the Nuggets, who have an 8-2 record against the Suns during that time span, oddsmakers like that Phoenix has covered the spread in half of those games and should have an advantage with Denver missing key players in Jamal Murray and Will Barton, who are both out with injuries.

Although Barton may return at some point in the series, Murray is expected to miss the rest of the season after having ACL surgery.

For the Game 1 matchup, other interesting wagers are at stake. There seems to be a two-horse race for which player scores the most points.

Nikola Jokic is the favorite to be the high scorer for both teams in the game at -125. Devin Booker is close behind him at +110.

Michael Porter Jr. and Deandre Ayton follow with respective prices of +1100 and +6000 to be the Game 1 high scorers, according to FanDuel.

Jokic, who is one of three finalists for league MVP has an over/under for Game 1 points set at 30.5 while Booker’s is set at 29.5.

Jokic is also favored to finish the game with the highest rebound totals of any player on either team.

Both Jokic and Deandre Ayton have rebound totals for Game 1 set at 10.5, with Jokic carrying slightly better odds at -130 to go over the number, compared to Ayton at +100.

Oddsmakers have set Chris Paul’s assist total at 8.5 compared to 7.5 for Jokic.

Las Vegas also likes that the Suns have been the better team this season.

Aside from the obvious of having a higher seed, Phoenix has a better record in home and away games and they have been better against the spread.

Denver is 38-40 against the spread this season compared to the Suns’ record of 46-30-2.

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