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Nuggets vs Suns Game 3 Predictions, Props & Same-Game Parlay (May 5)
By Eric Rosales in NBA Basketball
Updated: May 6, 2023 at 8:21 pm EDTPublished:
- The Phoenix Suns are 4-point favourites in Game 3 of their Round 2 series with the Denver Nuggets
- Nikola Jokic went for 39 points, 16 rebounds and five assists in Game 2, to lift Denver to a 2-0 series lead
- Don’t miss the latest Nuggets vs Suns Game 3 odds here, plus betting splits and Same-Game Parlay picks
It’s basically the last stand for the Phoenix Suns in the West’s NBA Playoff Bracket against the Nuggets.
After failing to get a win in the first two games at Denver, Phoenix returns home looking for their first win of the series.
A win, and we have a series. Lose, and the Suns will face a 3-0 hole — a deficit no team in the NBA Playoff history has ever been able to come back from.
Game 3 goes Friday (May 5) at 10pm ET from the Footprint Centre in Phoenix, AZ. You can watch the game live on ESPN.
Nuggets vs Suns Game 3 Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Nuggets | +4.0 (-110) | +155 | O 224.5 (-110) |
| Phoenix Suns | -4.0 (-110) | -180 | U 224.5 (-110) |
Despite losing by an average of 14 points per game in Denver, the NBA odds have the Suns as 4-point favourites and -180 on the moneyline, an implied win probability of 64.29%.
Phoenix was solid at home this season, going 28-13 in the regular season, while winning both home dates in the postseason.
The Nuggets were just 19-22 on the road in the regular season, and are 1-1 in the playoffs.
Odds as of May 4 at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Chris Paul Out as Suns Need a Win
The Suns already had a pretty thin rotation after their core-four, and they’ll be missing one of those guys Friday.
Point guard Chris Paul injured his groin in the second quarter of their 97-87 Game 2 loss and didn’t return. He’s already been ruled out, and its likely he’ll be sidelined in Game 4 as well.
I asked Devin Booker what the Suns’ confidence level is heading back home down 0-2. After a pause, he said: “I love it. I just love playoff basketball. That’s the first thing I said when I got in the locker room: You just have to love this shit. Embrace it.” pic.twitter.com/3aSF277R6c
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) May 2, 2023
Without him, Phoenix couldn’t close down the stretch, getting outscored 27-14 in the final frame, shooting 7-for-25 from the field, including an 0-for-9 mark from distance. Next man up is Cam Payne, but he’s struggled in this series, shooting 1-for-7 for two points in 17 minutes in Game 2.
Of course, much of the heavy lifting will come from Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. KD is putting up 26.5 points and 11 rebounds through two games, while D-Book is averaging 31 points and seven assists. Perhaps Monty Williams ventures down his bench, dusting off offensive options like Terrence Ross and TJ Warren.
Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets take a 2-0 lead 👀
🃏 39 points
🃏 16 rebounds
🃏 5 assists#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/PL2P97Avth— NBA (@NBA) May 2, 2023
For the Nuggets, it was all about Nikola Jokic. With just about every other teammate struggling, Jokic was unstoppable, going for 39 points, 16 rebounds, five assists and two steals. Aaron Gordon was the next highest scorer with 16 points.
It was a forgettable night for Jamal Murray, who posted just 10 points on 3-for-15 shooting, while Michael Porter Jr had five points shooting 2-for-7. Denver shot only 7-for-27 from beyond the arc (25.9%). Fortunately, the Suns were worse, hitting just six of 31, a paltry 19.4% clip.
Denver vs Phoenix Same-Game Parlay
On top of the high stakes in the game result, don’t be shy to tack on a Same-Game parlay to your betting card. We’ve crafted this 4-leg SGP that pays out at a cool +1200.
We’ll start with the Suns’ dynamic scoring duo. Devin Booker should do most of the heavy lifting, and he’s coming off a 35-point effort in Game 2.
As for Kevin Durant, he missed a second straight double-double in this series by a couple of rebounds. He’s the only other big beside Ayton, so he should have plenty of board work again.
Nuggets vs Suns Game 3 Same-Game Parlay
| Pick | Odds |
|---|---|
| Devin Booker OVER 31.5 points | +105 |
| Kevin Durant Double-Double YES | +115 |
| Deandre Ayton UNDER 8.5 rebounds | +150 |
| Jamal Murray OVER 23.5 points | +115 |
| Same-Game Parlay Odds | +1200 |
Speaking of rebounds, Ayton has been thoroughly beaten up by Jokic. No shame in that, but he’s a 7-footer looking small out there, yet to grab nine boards in a game this series. I’ll take the plus odds that happens a third time.
Finally, Jamal Murray entered Game 2 having cracked 24 points in four of six games in this playoffs. While he registered a dud, the bounce back has some good juice.
Nuggets vs Suns Prediction
A rested Nuggets side has been a stellar bet of late. With three days of rest, Denver is 5-0 against the spread in their last five outings. They’re also 5-0 ATS in their last five head-to-head matchups with Phoenix.
The Suns have also failed to cover in four straight conference semifinal games, and they’re 0-4 ATS against teams with a winning percentage of .600 or better.
Even with stellar outings from both KD and Book, this Denver squad can stay competitive with Jokic running the offense. The Nuggets have lost just once this postseason, losing by six points in overtime.
Phoenix should survive, but not without sweating out a close one.
Pick:
- Nuggets +4.0 (-110); 1.5 units to win 1.36 units
Eric Rosales
Sports Writer & Editor
Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
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