Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns Prediction: Nuggets can get a big win here

The NBA Regular Season has reached the midway point and soon we can witness a bunch of trades that can shake up the league. From here on, the race to the Playoffs is only going to get tighter and teams that have been around 50% can no longer afford big losing streaks. The Phoenix Suns recently broke their losing streak and their hands will be full when they take on the Denver Nuggets.

The Suns come into this game after an unprecedented 125:113 win against the Warriors as Mikal Bridges collected 26 points. This win broke a six-game losing streak and the Suns now have equal wins and losses with 21. This season has gone off the rails for Phoenix which came in with high expectations after finishing with 64 wins and just 18 losses. The Suns have lost 14 of their last 19 games and most of these losses have come since Devin Booker has been injured. In his absence, the scoring average has been down by 10+ points.

The play of Ayton and Bridges has been above-average but nowhere near what was expected from them after the team had developed them well. The trouble with the Suns currently has been that they lack options that can generate in the half-court scenarios while their running game hasn’t been on. Apart from Devin Booker, the team is missing Cam Johnson and Cameron Payne, both of them capable scorers and key rotation players. The Suns' hope of a title run with the current core is diminishing.

The Nuggets enter the game after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 122:109 as explosive Guard Jamal Murray erupted for 34 points. This was Nuggets’ third straight win and they have now won 11 games in a row at home which has shot them to 27 wins and 13 losses. After struggling last season, Denver has found life through the returns of Jamal Murray and MIchael Porter Jr. The Nuggets of course enforce their effort through the incredible play of Nikola Jokic but he has strong help now unlike last now.

The additions of Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have been huge too and they are reliable role players. Brown has been a terrific injury cover for Michael Porter Jr and he can also play multiple positions whereas Kentavious is a proven “3 and D” option. Having Aaron Gordon brings amazing balance too. The Nuggets have shot almost 40% from the three-point line which is number in the league while their field goal percentage is close to 51 and number two in the league. The Nuggets are second in assists per game and their defense has improved considerably.

• Nuggets: OUT: Peyton Watson, Jeff Green, Bones Hyland. PROBABLE: Bones Hyland, Bruce Brown, Zeke Nnaji;
• Suns: OUT: Devin Booker, Cameron Payne, Cameron Johnson. Game-Time Decisions: Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton, Landry Shamet.

• Expected Leading Scorers: Nikola Jokic(28-34 Points), Mikal Bridges(22-26 Points);
• Expected Leading Rebounder: Nikola Jokic(13-15 Rebounds);
• Expected Leading Playmaker: Nikola Jokic(9-11 Assists).

It is strange how far the Suns have fallen and things look grim for them but the last win against the Warriors can serve as a confidence booster. The Nuggets have been doing a great job at home and make for the worst opponent right now for the Suns considering this is a back-to-back for a struggling team away from home. I believe this is why the Nuggets will win and i predict a scoreline of 126:110 in the Nuggets’ favor.