It’s another light night in the Association, with just five games on the Thursday NBA odds menu. However, two of those contests offer plenty of intrigue.
For starters, the best team in the NBA takes the floor as an underdog for the second straight night, as the streaking Phoenix Suns visit the Mile High City for a battle with the Nuggets.
Currently in sixth place in the Western Conference, Denver is desperately trying to stay out of NBA play-in game territory. So too are the Cavaliers and Raptors, who meet in a crucial late-season Eastern Conference clash north of the border.
Props.com breaks down both matchups in our Thursday NBA betting preview.
Thursday NBA Odds via PointsBet USA and updated as of 6:45 p.m. ET on March 24.
Phoenix Suns Vs Denver Nuggets
Tipoff/TV: 9 p.m. ET/NBA TV
Suns: 59-14 SU/40-33 ATS
Nuggets: 43-30 SU/33-39-1 ATS
Spread/Total: Nuggets -4 (-105)/233
Last meeting: The Suns blasted Denver 126-97 as a 10.5-point home favorite on Nov. 21
Did you know: While the teams have split their two meetings this season, Phoenix is on a 5-1 SU/ATS run in this rivalry. The Suns also have won and covered three straight meetings in Denver
About Phoenix: Even without All-Star point guard Chris Paul (broken thumb), the Suns remain the NBA’s most dominant team. Phoenix has the league’s best record by a mile; long ago clinched the Pacific Division; is one victory away from wrapping up the No. 1 overall playoff seed; and owns the league’s longest current winning streak at six in a row (5-1 ATS). The latest victory came Tuesday in Minnesota, where the Suns overcame a 13-point halftime deficit and rolled 125-116 as a 2-point underdog. Phoenix is 10-2 SU/7-5 ATS in its last 12 contests, with seven of those wins by nine points or more. During its latest winning streak, the Suns are averaging 130.2 points per game, scoring at least 125 in every contest. Phoenix ranks third in the NBA in scoring offense (115 ppg), sixth in scoring defense (106.6 ppg), and first in point differential (8.4 ppg).
Editor’s Note: Looking to become a sharper NBA bettor? Check out our NBA betting guide for a few wagering tips.
About Denver: The Nuggets survived a fourth-quarter charge by the Clippers on Tuesday, then pulled away for a 127-115 victory as a 6.5-point home chalk. The win snapped a modest two-game skid overall and three-game slump at home. Even with the spread-cover against Los Angeles, Denver is just 3-6 ATS in its last nine games overall (including 1-4 ATS at home). For the season, the Nuggets are just 14-21 ATS at home, while Phoenix is 22-13 ATS on the road. With nine regular-season games remaining, Denver is holding on to the sixth spot in the Western Conference, two games behind both Utah and Dallas but only 1.5 games clear of seventh-place Minnesota/play-in territory.
Injuries: Despite hints that Paul would return to the lineup Thursday, he has been officially ruled out. Paul, who has been sidelined since the All-Star break with a broken right thumb, was expected to be out six to eight weeks but looks to be ahead of that schedule. … Denver enters this game healthy.
Notable Trends
- Phoenix is 4-1 ATS in its last five as a road underdog
- Phoenix is 5-2 ATS in its last seven back-to-back situations
- Denver is 2-6 ATS in its last seven as a home chalk
- Over for Phoenix is on runs of 6-1 overall and 4-0 on the road
- Over for Denver is on runs of 4-0 overall and 18-6-2 at home
- Road team is 8-3 SU/7-4 ATS in the last 11 Suns-Nuggets meetings
Phoenix Suns Vs Denver Nuggets Odds and Action
Check back later for Thursday NBA odds and action updates on Suns vs. Nuggets.
Cleveland Cavaliers Vs Toronto Raptors
Tipoff/TV: 7:30 p.m. ET/NBA League Pass
Cavaliers: 41-31 SU/39-30 3 ATS
Raptors: 40-32 SU/41-31 ATS
Spread/Total: Raptors -5.5/215 (Over -115)
Last meeting: On March 6, Cleveland improved to 3-0 SU/ATS against the Raptors this season with a 104-96 victory as a 5-point favorite
Did you know: Toronto now has the third-best spread-covering record in the NBA, trailing Memphis and Oklahoma City. The Cavaliers, who had the top ATS record two months into the season, are now seventh
About Cleveland: The Cavaliers have been spinning their wheels the last couple of weeks, going 5-4 SU/4-4-1 ATS in their last nine. Dating to Feb. 12, Cleveland has lost 10 of its last 16 on the hardwood and cashed in only five of those contests. On Tuesday, the Cavs went off as 5-point home favorites against the slumping Lakers and lost 131-120. They’re allowing 115.9 ppg over their last eight outings. Once solidly in the top six in the Eastern Conference — and out of NBA playoff play-in territory — Cleveland is now clinging to sixth place with 10 games remaining. The Cavs are just game ahead of tonight’s opponent (but also only one game behind fifth-place Chicago).
About Toronto: The road-weary Raptors return to Canada for just the second time since March 4, having played eight of their last nine on the highway. Toronto had won six of those road games in a row — including Sunday’s 93-88 upset at Philadelphia as a 7.5-point underdog — before falling 113-99 to the Bulls on Monday as a four-point pup. Since Feb. 7, Toronto has played just five of 21 games at home. The good news: Eight of the Raptors’ final 10 games are in Canada. The bad news: Toronto has dropped three in a row and four of five in its building, going 0-5 ATS. As noted, the Raptors are in a dogfight with the Cavaliers and Bulls in the Eastern Conference standings. One of those squads almost certainly will be stuck in the play-in round.
Injuries: Cavaliers center/leading rebounder Jarrett Allen (broken left finger) remains out indefinitely. Point guard Rajon Rondo (ankle) also is expected to sit out his sixth straight game. … Toronto shooting guard Gary Trent Jr. (left toe) missed Monday’s game in Chicago and is questionable Thursday. Meanwhile, forward OG Anunoby, who has been sidelined the last month with a broken right finger, is close to returning but listed as doubtful against Cleveland. Trent (18 ppg) and Anunoby (17.5 ppg) are the Raptors’ third- and fourth-leading scorers.
Notable Trends
- Cleveland is 2-5 ATS in its last seven road games
- Toronto is 6-2 ATS in its last eight overall
- Over for Cleveland is on runs of 5-0 overall and 4-0-1 on the road
- Under for Toronto is on runs of 4-1 overall and 4-1 at home
- Cleveland is 5-2 ATS in its last seven vs. Toronto overall
- Toronto is 4-1 ATS in its last five at home vs. Cleveland
- Over is 7-3 in the last 10 series meetings in Toronto
Cleveland Cavaliers Vs Toronto Raptors Odds and Action
UPDATE 6:45 P.M. ET: Forty-five minutes before tipoff, PointsBet USA has Toronto a 4.5-point favorite on its Thursday NBA odds board, after opening -3.5 and peaking at -5. Ticket count is almost dead even, but money is in the 4/1 range on the Raptors. The total opened at 215 and dipped to 213.5 a short time ago. Updated splits on the total were not available.
