Phoenix Suns vs Brooklyn Nets Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 13/12/2023, 03:55  by Kennedy Kechula in NBA Predictions

The Brooklyn Nets will be away to the Phoenix Suns on Thursday for the second of their five-game schedule in the West. Brooklyn are currently eighth in the Eastern Conference the same position the Suns find themselves in in the West. The Phoenix Suns are coming off a 119-116 victory over Golden State that improved their record to 13-10. Frank Vogel’s men have struggled in recent weeks and needed that victory to boost their morale. They had lost two in a row and had managed only one win in their previous five outings. Phoenix has compiled a 3-2 record against teams from the East with all five games coming away from home. Having won the last four meetings with Brooklyn, Thursday’s hosts will be confident of a second victory in back-to-back nights. Phoenix, who are averaging 117.3 points when at home, could be without leading scorer Kevin Durant here. Durant, who is averaging 31 points and 5.7 assists, has missed the last two games with an ankle injury. The veteran forward spent four years with Brooklyn before joining the Suns earlier this year. A positive note though for the Pacific Division Franchise is that Bradley Beal is back from injury. The former Wizards’ guard played his fourth game of the season in the win over the Warriors. He tallied 16 points in 27 minutes. Devin Booker led the team in scoring in that emotionally charged match and dropped 32 points and seven assists.

The Brooklyn Nets began their five-game road trip to the West with defeat as they fell 131-118 in Sacramento on Tuesday. It was their second defeat in three fixtures against teams from the West this season. Both defeats have come away from home. Jacque Vaughn’s men are having an impressively decent campaign and are currently two games above .500. They are averaging 117 points per game which is the eighth-best tally in the league. The Nets are also shooting 44.3% from three and only three teams are shooting the ball better in the entire league. Mikal Bridges, who was acquired in the Durant trade, leads Brooklyn in scoring and is averaging 23.1 points. He scored 22 against the Kings and should be eager to lead his team to victory in his return to Arizona. Ben Simmons and Lonnie Walker IV will miss out here due to hip and hamstring injuries respectively. Dennis Smith Jr, who has missed eight of the last 10 games with a back problem, is listed as ‘Questionable’ for this game.