NBA
Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns Odds, Tips and Prediction
The Western Conference matchup between the Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Suns is expected to be a highly contested and close affair.
Nikola Jokic//Getty Images
The Western Conference matchup between the Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Suns is expected to be a highly contested and close affair. Both teams are struggling to find their feet this season, and the Nuggets are sixth compared to the Suns’ 11th-placed seedings even though the latter have lost two more games.
SportsBoom will investigate this heated battle further and provide all the essential information before tip-off. Both teams want to deliver an important win in this highly competitive division.
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Match Details: Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns
Date: Wednesday 25th December
Start time: 7:30 pm local time (3:30 am BST)
Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
Last meeting: March 27, 2024, Phoenix Suns 104-97 Denver Nuggets
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
Denver Nuggets the slight favourite to win:
Denver Nuggets: 83/100 (1.83) – 54.6%
Phoenix Suns: 1/1(2.00) – 50%
Odds courtesy of Stake, subject to change
Head-to-Head Record
This encounter has only previously seen 192 regular season games in the past, but every time in recent memory, it has delivered box-office entertainment. The Phoenix Suns edge the total head-to-head record with a total of 104 wins, whereas the Nuggets have won 88 matches themselves.
This is their first game of the 2024/25 season, and it looks set to be another very close affair. However, it is hard to predict who will win. The Suns are currently the better team in a five-game stretch, having won four of their last five meetings with the Nuggets.
Last Five Matches
| Season | Date | Result |
| 2023/24 Season | March 27, 2024 | Phoenix Suns 104-97 Denver Nuggets |
| 2023/24 Season | March 5, 2024 | Phoenix Suns 117-107 Denver Nuggets |
| 2023/24 Season | December 1, 2023 | Denver Nuggets 119-111 Phoenix Suns |
| 2022/23 Season | April 6, 2023 | Phoenix Suns 119-115 Denver Nuggets |
| 2022/23 Season | March 31, 2023 | Phoenix Suns 100-93 Denver Nuggets |
How is the season so far for both teams?
Phoenix Suns
- Record: 14-13
- Home Form: 9-6
- Road Form: 5-7
Despite their current seeding, the Phoenix Suns have a more favourable home record in the Western Conference, which places them 11th overall. The Suns face the Nuggets back-to-back in Denver over the festive period, a team they’re yet to face but are presented with an opportunity to put their road form back to 0.500 territory.
36-year-old veteran Kevin Durant continues to show no sign of stopping with age as he continues to post his career average of 27 points per game. He has missed a few games here and there at various periods but never fails to deliver on his constant efficiency year after year. The longevity has been a crucial component of the Suns’ heavy scoring.
Alongside Durant, fellow all-star shooting guard Devin Booker showed up time and time again for his team. Though he missed his first game of the season last week, Booker is averaging over the 25 points-per-game mark and accumulating an average of 6.4 assists –stats that nearly eclipse his best years in orange and purple. His presence is already a miss within the team, as the Suns are 0-1 without him but should be back for the match specifically on Christmas Day.
Denver Nuggets
- Record: 14-11
- Home Form: 7-4
- Road Form: 7-7
The Denver Nuggets need to start finding consistent form and a string of results to spark their campaign into light, but it’s looking complicated. The Nuggets are still 0.500 on the road, but their home form is something to be pleased about, as they have two challenging games on their hands against the Suns.
The Nuggets’ core reason for their positive record is Nikola Jokic. The Serbian player is now the favourite to win yet another Most Valuable Player, producing numbers that no other active NBA player can reach. He is a leading figure in points, rebounds, assists and every other stat, but his team need to elevate their game to try and win a second NBA Championship.
NBA veteran Russell Westbrook is faltering in scoring but is 16th overall in assists. He has posted double digits and produced the goods on three occasions in the previous six games; therefore, his linkup play with Jokic could improve the Nuggets’ offensive formations and transitions.
Value Bets
Nikola Jokic: Over 25 Points and 8 Rebounds: The Serbian powerhouse will be crucial to the game and to the Nuggets' victory. Jokic’s form arguably shows him performing at the peak of his powers, and his dominant court displays have become the norm. The Suns ought to exercise caution during their defensive game, but the Nuggets center will look to raise the bar even higher.
Kevin Durant: Over 25 points: The Suns’ power forward Durant will always be a safe bet to deliver on all scoring fronts. When playing the Nuggets in a Suns jersey, Durant has always shown up and played to exceptionally high standards. With an average of 28.8 points per game, 8.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists in his previous five meetings, it can be assumed he consistently steps up when playing against a key rival in the West.
Kevin Durant//Getty Images
Prediction: Denver Nuggets to Win
SportsBoom predicts the Denver Nuggets to edge out the Phoenix Suns on Christmas Day. We agree with the probability odds that it will be a close encounter to call, but Jokic should be a nightmare for the Suns’ struggling defensive structure. As well as Jokic and Westbrook, Jamal Murray is a player who could make a difference offensively but has struggled to post consistent numbers like in previous years. The back-to-back games will be significant for both teams due to how close-knit the standings are.
Henry Cheal is a versatile freelance sports journalist with extensive experience in the industry. Henry has previously worked at the 2024 World Snooker Championship and earned a Multimedia Sports Journalism degree from UCFB in 2023.
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