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Suns vs Nuggets Game 5 Picks, Predictions & Player Props (May 9)
By Eric Rosales in NBA Basketball
Published:
- The Denver Nuggets are -205 favorites in Game 5 of their Round 2 series vs the Phoenix Suns
- Devin Booker and Kevin Durant scored 36 each as the Suns won Game 4 to even the series at 2-2
- Check out the latest Suns vs Nuggets Game 5 picks, plus injury news, betting splits and prop bets to target
Powered by the lights-out shooting of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, the Phoenix Suns have squared their series with the Denver Nuggets.
That includes going toe-to-toe with Nikola Jokic, who has been absolutely unstoppable in Round 2.
Now, a monumental showdown between these two squads will put the other on the edge of the bowing out in the West’s NBA Playoff Bracket.
Game 5 goes Tuesday (May 9) at 10pm ET from Ball Arena in Denver, CO. You can watch the game live on TNT.
Suns vs Nuggets Game 5 Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Suns | +5.5 (-110) | +175 | O 228 (-110) |
| Denver Nuggets | -5.5 (-110) | -205 | U 228 (-110) |
Despite dropping two in a row, the NBA odds have the Nuggets as 5.5-point favorites as they return home. They’re also -205 favorites on the moneyline, giving them an implied win probability of 67.21%. The game features a total of 228 points.
The Nuggets had the second-best home record in the NBA this season, losing just seven times at Ball. They’re a perfect 5-0 at home in the postseason.
Phoenix was 17-24 on the road, and are 2-2 as visitors in the playoffs.
Odds as of May 8 at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Phoenix Betting Analysis
It took a pair of dynamic performances from D-Book and KD to draw even with the West’s top seed, the latest in 129-124 win in Game 4, bringing the Round 2 series to 2-2.
Booker had 36 points on a stellar 14-for-18 from the field, with 12 dimes and six boards. He has shot 34-for-43 in the last two games, a surreal 79.1% clip, and a ridiculous 66.7% from distance.
Kevin Durant and Devin Booker have been the best duo in the playoffs 🔥 #RallyTheValley https://t.co/T8Z1m4QNDe
— 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘢☆ (@Stunna999_) May 8, 2023
Durant matched his teammate with his own 36 points, with 11 rebounds and five assists. That’s after going for 39 in Game 3.
Still without Chris Paul (groin), who’s already listed out for Game 5, Phoenix got some much needed support from Landry Shamet. The reserve wing scored 19 points off the bench, including four three-pointers in a lights-out fourth quarter.
Shamet led a bench mob that finished with 40 points, outscoring the Denver reserves by 29 points.
Denver Betting Analysis
Booker’s play has been so outstanding that he’s outshined 2-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who’s been absolute dynamite in both losses in the Valley. Jokic was all-world in Game 4, dropping a career-playoff high 53 points to go along with 11 assists in the loss. This after going for 30 points, 17 boards and 17 assists in Game 3.
There were only two blemishes in his performance Saturday: he committed six turnovers, and he was involved in an altercation with new Suns owner Matt Ishbia. Ishbia held a ball that went out of bounds, and kept it from Jokic, who tried to grab it. Jokic was seen shoving the owner, who flopped, and Jokic got T’d up.
Nikola Jokic sets the @nuggets record for points in a Playoff game in Game 4 👏
53 PTS
11 AST
20-30 FGPHX/DEN Game 5 | Tues, 10pm/et | TNT pic.twitter.com/i952K7gdpe
— NBA (@NBA) May 8, 2023
Fortunately, the NBA has decided no further discipline would be necessary.
Jokic could use a little bit more help from his teammates. Jamal Murray had 28 points, seven assists and five boards, but Michael Porter Jr and Aaron Gordon could muster 11 points each on a combined 9-for-23 shooting.
After holding the Suns to 97 points per game in the first two games in Denver (both wins), the Nuggets have surrendered 125 points per game across the last two, letting Phoenix shoot 53.4% from the field and 38.6% from downtown.
Suns vs Nuggets Prop Bets & Predictions
There are a couple of sure-fire props you should be targeting for Game 5.
The first is Devin Booker’s scoring total. He’s gone for at least 30 points in seven of nine playoff games. Even with Denver’s defensive gameplan to let someone other than Book beat them, the 31.5 total (-125) is so gettable.
Jokic was the centerpiece of our Same-Game parlay win in Game 4, and he’s bettered his 53.5 total of points, rebounds and assists in three straight games. In this biggie, expect the big man to show up in a big way.
As for the this game, the Suns are just 2-5 against the spread in their last seven against Denver. The Nuggets were a great home favorite bet all season, going 25-16-1 ATS, the 5th-best mark in hoops.
However, it’s hard to not target the total, as the two teams have crushed the over in three of the first four games of this series, and in four of the last five games between these two overall.
There’s just too much star power and elite shot making here to target anything else.
Pick: OVER 228 points (-110)
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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