Steve Starr
- Go to BetOnline or Bovada for the latest odds on the Nuggets vs Suns matchup
- Two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic could face disciplinary action after an altercation with Phoenix’s owner on Sunday
- TNT airs Game 5 from Ball Arena in Denver, CO on Tuesday, May 9 at 10:00 p.m. ET
Kevin Durant and Devin Booker combined to score 76 points in a 129-124 Game 4 victory, tying up Phoenix’s best-of-seven series with the Nuggets at 2-2. Nikola Jokic went off for 53 points and 11 rebounds in a losing effort where he was also assessed a technical foul for elbowing Suns owner Mat Ishbia.
With the series headed back to the Mile High City for Game 5, let’s look at the opening line and make our picks. You can also check out the latest 2023 NBA Playoff Betting Odds and our guide to betting on NBA basketball.
Nuggets vs Suns
 | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
| Phoenix Suns | +5.0 (-110) | -104 | Ov 227.5 (-110) |
| Denver Nuggets | -5.0 (-110) | -116 | Un 227.5 (-110) |
Can KD and Booker be stopped?
Devin Booker and Kevin Durant have combined for 158 points over the past two contests. Booker followed up a 47-point outing in Game 3 with 36 points on Sunday. He’s shooting an impossible 79% from the field. KD also registered 36 in Game 4 to follow up a 39-point effort. While it’s only the second round, the duo has already scored 30+ points each in four different playoff games this postseason.
How will Denver respond on Tuesday night? Given that Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray combined for 81 points in Game 4, the Nuggets can’t really ask more of their two stars.
Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith questioned Nikola Jokić receiving a technical and Mat Ishbia not being ejected. "If another fan wouldn't have let the ball go, he would have got tossed," Barkley said. pic.twitter.com/C9mMFOhxVM
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 8, 2023
Twitter explodes
Nikola Jokic scored or assisted on 78 points in Game 4. Even though that’s the most-ever by a center in league history, his performance was overshadowed by a run in with Mat Ishbia. In the second quarter of Sunday’s game, the two-time NBA MVP tried to grab the ball from the Suns owner, who was sitting courtside.
When the billionaire refused to comply, Jokic hit him with a soft elbow that sent him flopping back like Manu Ginobili in his prime.
Denver vs Phoenix
Denver is a 5-point home favorite on Tuesday night. They are a perfect 5-0 at home this postseason, defeating the Suns by 18 in Game 1 and 10 in Game 2. The Nuggets (35-7) also tied Memphis for the best home mark in the NBA during the regular season. While they didn’t get off to the best of starts in the Mile High City, the Suns won two road contests over the Clippers in the first round.
Game 5’s over/under is set at 227.5 points. With the exception of Game 2 at Ball Arena, every matchup in this series has gone well over that total. Tread carefully, however, as OVER will be a popular bet after we all witnessed Jokic, Durant and Booker light it up on Sunday.
Nobody has ever scored more than 300 points on 70% true shooting in the first 9 games of a postseason until Devin Booker.
ESPN story on the Suns superstar’s historic groove: https://t.co/l5KfkoZuYR
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) May 8, 2023
Best Bet
Chris Paul is still nursing a groin injury and not expected back until Game 6 at the earliest. Still, Michael Malone’s squad desperately needs to find a way to slow down KD and Booker to avoid a third-straight loss.
Denver is one of the best home teams in the NBA and the Suns’ red-hot shooting over the past two games (61%) can’t possibly continue. Take the Nuggets to cover at home with the UNDER.
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