Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns Betting Odds


Opening Line: Denver +2.5 / Phoenix -2.5 O/U 223.5

Time: 9 PM EST Monday March 1, 2010 on FAHD

Tonight in a Western Conference match up in a game where there will be no lack of offense the Phoenix Suns host the Denver Nuggets. Don't look for a lot of defense in this game, as these teams are the top 2 highest scoring teams in the league and neither ranks in the top 20 in points allowed. Both teams are coming off a loss and the Nuggets are 6-4 in their last 10 games and the Suns are 7-3 in their last 10 games.

The Nuggets are in 2nd place in the West and the Suns are in 5th place in the West 3 games back of Denver. While the Suns are 8.5 games back of the L.A. Lakers in the Pacific Division the Nuggets only lead the Utah Jazz by 1 game in the Northwest Division.

This season the Suns are 22-7 at home and 33-26-1 ATS and the Nuggets are 14-15 on the road and 27-29-2 ATS.

Both teams lost yesterday, as the Nuggets lost to the L.A. Lakers 95-89 and the Suns lost to the San Antonio Spurs 113-110.

The Suns have owned the Nuggets at home, as they have won 9 straight against Denver in Phoenix.

Can either team play any defense in this game? The Nuggets rank 22nd this season in points allowed (102.7 ppg) while the Suns rank 29th (106.3 ppg).

Carmelo Anthony (29 ppg) ranks 3rd in the league in scoring, but he only had 21 points in yesterday's loss before fouling out in the 4th quarter. He has to have a good scoring game and that should not be too hard against a weak Phoenix defense.

The PG match up in this game is a great one with Steve Nash (17.4 ppg 11.2 assists per game) and Chauncey Billups (20.3 ppg 6.1 assists per game). Each has to play good D on their counterpart and not let them have a huge scoring game.

Neither team has a positive rebounding differential this season and the team that win the battle of the boards and get out on the break will have the advantage tonight.

Denver is 4-1-2 ATS in their last 7 road games, 10-3-1 ATS in their last 14 games as an underdog of 0.5-4.5, and has an Under record of 7-3 in their last 10 games against teams with a winning home record.

Phoenix is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games, 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games as a home favorite of 0.5-4.5, and has an Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 games as a home favorite.

In the last 5 games between these 2 teams the total has gone Under 4 times and in their last 6 games in Phoenix they have an ATS record of 1-5.


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