NBA Sunday Tips: Are the Denver Nuggets losing their shine?

The Denver Nuggets’ slump in form has raised questions over their NBA championship credentials – and the destination of the MVP trophy. Mark Woods previews their game against the Nets.

Denver Nuggets @ Brooklyn Nets

Tipoff: 7.30pm Sunday GMT (Sky Sports Arena) 

The Denver Nuggets still have a firm hold on the top seed in the NBA Western Conference, but the wait to clinch the number one spot was certainly prolonged by their four-game losing streak that unexpectedly arrived last week.

The “swagger” has gone AWOL, according to head coach Mike Malone. And, although they broke their skid with a perfunctory win over lowly Detroit, conceding 117 points or more four nights in a row is not the stuff of champions. Little wonder that the markets now only give Denver a 7% chance of the title with Phoenix the favourite to win out the West.

A tad too early, perhaps. Better than the Nuggets iron out a few kinks a month out from the NBA playoffs than when they begin. But the most dramatic shift has been the transformation in the NBA Most Valuable Player betting. 

I said two months ago that Joel Embiid was ridiculously good value at 8.4 for the prize. Now, he has overhauled Nikola Jokic as shortest-priced contender at 1.8. The voters are looking for good reasons not to give the Serb a three-peat. Denver’s slump combined with the 76ers surge has swung the pendulum. It is a race too close to call. 

Denver plays the second part of a Big Apple weekender on Sunday with a visit to the Brooklyn Nets. The guests are 0-3 this season when on the road for the second game of a back-to-back, and they were 122-120 losers at home to the Nets last weekend.

That came amid a revival in Brooklyn that saw the Nets win five out of six before successive defeats popped that bubble and left them once again clinging onto an automatic playoff spot in the East. Normally, a clash between two teams with such disparate records and talent would be a no-contest. The Nuggets’ humps on the road make it anything but.

Prediction: Over 230 points @ 2.2 

Phoenix Suns @ Oklahoma City Thunder

Tipoff: 8pm Sunday GMT 

Like Denver, Phoenix is resting on laurels already gained, but they are also slipping back. They’re favourites in the NBA Western Conference simply because of what Kevin Durant might bring upon his return from injury. That, in no way, reflects their immediate reality. 

The Suns lost three times in a row at the hand of fellow elites - Sacramento, Golden State and Milwaukee - before snapping the skid with a three-point squeaker against Orlando. And that places the Suns exactly where they were prior to the Durant trade: a very-good-but-not-quite great line-up that should probably be a little better. 

They walloped the Thunder 132-101 last week in the aftermath of KD’s untimely ankle roll in the warmup. Even on the road, they should get by OKC again. But there are multiple questions, and answers, surrounding the Suns title candidacy. 

Prediction: Suns -5 @ 2.9

Orlando Magic @ Los Angeles Lakers

Tipoff: 1.30am Monday GMT 

Just when the LA Lakers seemed to be finding a groove with eight wins out of eleven, they lost to the Houston Rockets. Short-handed, yes, as they were without Anthony Davis and LeBron James. 

Even with Davis back, they saw victory snatched away on Friday versus Dallas - another blow to any lingering hopes of surging towards the West’s top six. Look for confirmation of their injury list (James likely out) before backing them – even against their less than magical Sunday guests.      

Orlando has dropped six out of seven entering this weekend. The Lakers need every triumph they can find, but this could be low scoring. 

Prediction: Under 226 points @ 2.4

NBA Sunday Tips

Denver Nuggets @ Brooklyn Nets: Over 230 points @ 2.2
Phoenix Suns @ Oklahoma City Thunder: Suns -5 @ 2.9
Miami Heat @ Detroit Pistons:  Under 226 points @ 2.4