Nuggets -3.5 -115 Game 1 1 unit
Nuggets +115 to win the series 1.5 unit
Denver’s the deeper team, has been together much longer than this current version of the Suns and Jamal Murray will match a lot of Booker’s output. The Suns bench and role players are nothing like the last few years and they’re also getting Cam Payne back from injury who should be a little rusty and hasn’t played much with some of the bench rotation. Michael Malone also likely outcoaches Monty Williams in this series. Kevin Durant will get his regardless but it’s the Jokic/Ayton matchup, the depth, and the Suns having nobody who can defend Aaron Gordon underneath that can put them over the top. The Suns will play some of their starters 42-45 mins in some games and doing that at altitude isn’t going to be easy. The Nuggets were dominant at home all year, 34-7, have the home court advantage in the series and I think they come out Game 1 striking first after sitting on the fact that the Suns swept and embaressed them 2 years ago when Jamal Murray was hurt and they had to start Austin Rivers and Facu Campazzo.
