Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns
Time: 9 PM EST (NBA TV)
Spread: PHO -7.5
Total: 206
Betting odds c/o Bovada
The Denver Nuggets have gone a surprising 5-4 and are riding a two-game win streak as it travels to face Phoenix where the Suns are 7.5-point favorites for the game which will air on NBA TV at 9 PM EST.
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Denver has been led by the resurgence of Danilo Gallinari. The Italian forward is averaging 18.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.34 blocks/steals per game. Kenneth Faried is doing his job on the glass, with 10 boards per game in addition to his 14.4 points. The Nuggets have four other players averaging double-figure scoring, forming a balanced unit led by a rookie point guard in Emmanuel Mudiay.
Muddily has averaged 11.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game. The No. 7 overall pick has struggled with his shot though. He is hitting just 30.8 percent from the floor and 30.6 percent from three-point range. In the 107-98 win over Houston last night, he shot just 1 of 10 from the field, but he had 11 dimes and four rebounds. Even so, Mudiay committed nine turnovers and is averaging nearly five turnovers a game. Life as a rookie point guard can be tough.
Then there is the challenge Mudiay has from Phoenix’s backcourt tonight. The Suns starting back court of Eric Bledsoe and Brandon knight averages 42.7 points between them, and the Suns are 4-4 this season.
Bledsoe is kind of a Russell Westbrook-lite with 22.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.76 steals/blocks per game. He had a highly efficient game in the Suns win over the L.A. Clippers on Thursday night, and he fell just one assist shy of a triple double.
Bledsoe hit 9 of 13 field goals and grabbed 10 boards to go with his 26 points. Over his past three contests, Bledsoe is averaging 25.3 points and eight assists per game.
But it was Knight who stole the show in the win over the Clips. He had 37 points on 14 of 22 shooting, including dropping six threes. He is seeing 35 minutes per game and still represents a heist by Suns brass when he was already shining in Milwaukee.
The Suns do miss now-Celtics’ gunner Isaiah Thomas to some degree, but it was a notable upgrade to bring in Knight, the No. 8 overall pick from the 2011 draft. The Nuggets are heavy underdogs in this game, and it seems it should be that way given that Phoenix’s strengths are in the backcourt and Denver starts a rookie point guard. It could be a very long night for Mr. Mudiay.
Suns forward Markieff Morris is listed as questionable with a knee sprain. He is averaging 13 points per game on the season.
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