The Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns clash in a heavyweight Round 2 matchup of the 2023 NBA Playoffs, featuring the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference against the team favored by online sportsbooks to win the West. 

Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets dispatched the Timberwolves in five games, while Kevin Durant and the Suns took care of the Clippers in five, setting up this highly anticipated showdown. 

The Nuggets won the first two matchups in the regular season, but Durant didn’t play for Phoenix in either. The Suns won the latter two games, but Jokic and Jamal Murray sat out in those. 

Ahead of Game 1, Bookies.com breaks down the series and makes our NBA picks to back on sports betting apps.

Suns vs. Nuggets Game 1 Odds

Suns vs. Nuggets Betting Tips

Over The Moon: The total for Game 1 of this series is 226 points. The average points scored in the four regular season meetings was 225.8, so basically where the total lies. But either Durant, Booker or Jokic/Murray were missing from those games. 

Booker/Durant Connection: The Suns stars combined for 78 points in their team’s series-clinching win over the Clippers. Each has scored at least 25 points in their first five playoff games. The last duo to do that was Shaq/Kobe in 2003. Booker averaged 27.8 ppg in the regular season but so far is at 37.2 ppg in the postseason. He did not fare as well vs. Denver in the regular season (14.5 ppg in two games). 

Murray > Booker? Jamal Murray and Booker have faced off 16 times in the past. Murray’s Nuggets have won 14 of those games, and statistically, Murray has won the battles. Over the last three seasons, they’ve met six times. Murray is averaging 27 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists in those games, Booker at 19.1, 3.2 and 5.7. 

Suns vs. Nuggets Picks

The Suns are 12-1 with Durant in the lineup. In the past, Denver has dominated Phoenix when both teams have had their stars, but Durant hasn’t been in that mix. Suffice to say, that makes all the difference in the world. 

The Suns are -130 to win the series and advance, while the top-seeded Nuggets are at +110 on NBA betting sites. Denver, with its home-court advantage and propensity for slowing down Booker, has some value on that number. We think that whoever wins, we can all root for seven high-scoring games. Finish In 7 Games can be had at +195. 

Suns vs. Nuggets Schedule

• Game 1: Phoenix at Denver, Sat., April 29, 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
• Game 2: Phoenix at Denver, Mon., April 1, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
• Game 3: Denver at Phoenix, Fri., May 5, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• Game 4: Denver at Phoenix, Sun., May 7, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)
• *Game 5: Phoenix at Denver, Tues, May 9, TBD (TNT)
• *Game 6: Denver at Phoenix, Thur., May 11, TBD (ESPN)
• *Game 7: Phoenix at Denver, Sun., May 14, TBD (TBD)