The Footprint Center is the venue, and in the case of Monty Williams and his team, it’s a must win game when the Phoenix Suns host the Denver Nuggets in match 6 of their Western Conference Semi-Final playoff match. In our latest NBA betting picks, we take a look ahead to Thursday’s match and name who we think will be the winner.
If the betting to win the Western Conference is a good guideline to follow, then fans of the Phoenix Suns might want to start worrying.
The Denver Nuggets are the favorites to win the conference at +115. The Nuggets are closely followed by, no, not the Suns, but the LA Lakers who are just +140. Then comes the Suns at +700, with the Golden State Warriors next at +950.
The best NBA playoffs betting sites don’t seem to see a way back into this series for the Suns either.
They make the Nuggets -420 to see off Phoenix and take their place in the conference finals. For anybody thinking the Suns can turn the series around, they are a large looking +350 to take the final two matches.
In the betting to win the NBA Championship, it’s all Denver again. The best NBA betting sites make the Nuggets their +290 favorites to win the whole competition. But the Nuggets have never won the NBA Championship in their history. So can they handle the pressure in these final stages?
Fellow Western Conference rivals, the LA Lakers are next in the betting. The Lakers are now into just +300 to win the 2023 Championship. The LA Lakers already have 17 championship wins to their name, the last of which came in 2020, so they clearly know how to get the job done. And after a season that has seen them struggling at times, they now seem to be timing their run to perfection.
The next two teams in the betting are the two strongest in the Eastern Conference. The Philadelphia 76ers are +350, with the Boston Celtics at +375. Both teams are locked in a tense Semi-Final, with the 76ers leading 3-2, and with a home match to come in the sixth game of the series.
Behind the four favorites come the Phoenix Suns. The Suns are leading the best of the rest at +1000. Following Phoenix is the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat at +1600, with the New York Knicks at +10000.
For our NBA betting odds table we have used sportsbooks renowned for their expertise in basketball betting. For more information about them, please check out our best online sportsbook reviews page.
| 2023 NBA Championship Winner Betting |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Nuggets | +290 | +290 | +290 |
| LA Lakers | +300 | +300 | +300 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +350 | +350 | +350 |
| Boston Celtics | +375 | +375 | +375 |
| Phoenix Suns | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Golden State Warriors | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
| Miami Heat | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
| New York Knicks | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 |
The Nuggets finished top of the Western Conference in the regular NBA season. Despite this, they were never really regarded as one of the main betting favorites. All too often star studded line-ups like the Celtics and Suns were often favored ahead of them.
That’s not the case now, and as the Suns in particular have found, the Nuggets are genuine contenders. Nikola Jokić has been key. His performances are the main reason the Nuggets lead the series 3-2. Keeping Jokić quiet will be key for the Suns if they are to get back into the series.
But going in the Suns’ favor is that so far in this series the home side has won every match. And with the series now back in Arizona, that presents them with a golden opportunity to level the series up.
With home advantage, the Phoenix Suns head into this match as the favorite on the moneyline. The Suns are -160 to win the match and level the series. As for the Nuggets, they are +140 to get the win that confirms their place in the Western Conference final.
On the handicap line, the Suns are giving the Nuggets 3.5 points. Starting from -3.5, the Suns are -107, with the Nuggets at -113 (with a +3.5 points start). The total points spread is set at 226.5. Over 226.5 is -108, with Under 226.5 at -112. So far in this series, the total points spread has been covered three times, and on one occasion it was covered by some distance.
At the moment, Nikola Jokic is leading the Nuggets towards the conference final. In match 5 he contributed with 29 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists. Jokic looks in the mood, and we think he will at the very least help the Nuggets go close, if not win the sixth match. So we’re going for the Denver Nuggets to cover the spread for our opening pick.
We’re also having a look at the total points market in this match. As we’ve already mentioned, the spread has been covered in three of the five matches. In the two matches that didn’t cover, one had 220 points scored. While in the other, it was just 184.
But more to the point is that in both the Suns home matches, the spread has been covered. Okay, so this might be more of a nervy match. But we think it’s worth the risk, and we’re also backing over 226.6 points at -108.
About the Author
Dean is primarily a fan of English football who regularly attends games, and combining his hobby with his job, he is now a full-time sports betting writer. Rather than going down the educational route into sports journalism, Dean learned his trade by writing for his English football betting website since 2009, where he now boasts nearly 15 years of experience. After writing about football daily for years, Dean has taken the skills he learned and now uses them to great effect writing for numerous affiliate sites across the internet. A general all-around sports enthusiast with a passion for English football and cricket, Dean is also well able to turn his hand to writing about golf, tennis, F1, boxing, snooker, darts, and North American sports. Combining his extensive knowledge and experience with British humor and wit, Dean has developed into a trusted voice within the sports betting industry.
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