On Tuesday, Barclays Center hosts a cross-conference NBA matchup for the second straight night. After the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers squared off on Monday, the Nets host the Phoenix Suns. Phoenix is 29-26 overall and on regular rest, while Brooklyn is 32-21 and facing a rest disadvantage on the second night of a back-to-back. Devin Booker (groin) has been upgraded to probable for Phoenix, with Cameron Payne (foot) ruled out. Brooklyn will be without Kevin Durant (knee) and Seth Curry (adductor), as well as newcomers Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith.
Caesars Sportsbook lists Phoenix as an 8-point road favorite, and tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 224.5 in the latest Suns vs. Nets odds. Before locking in any Nets vs. Suns picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four-plus seasons. The model enters Week 17 of the 2022-23 NBA season on a stunning 52-28 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Nets vs. Suns and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines and trends for Suns vs. Nets:
- Nets vs. Suns spread: Suns -8
- Nets vs. Suns over/under: 224.5 points
- Nets vs. Suns money line: Suns -320, Nets +250
- PHX: The Suns are 14-13 against the spread in road games
- BKN: The Nets are 11-12-1 against the spread in home games
- Nets vs. Suns picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Suns can cover
Phoenix is an excellent defensive team, allowing only 112.1 points per 100 possessions, and the Suns have myriad strengths on that end of the floor. On the offensive side, the Suns also have tremendous strengths, headlined by the projected return of Booker. The three-time All-Star is averaging 27.1 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game with a 58.5% true shooting mark. Booker is flanked by a highly productive big man in Deandre Ayton, who is averaging 21.5 points and 12.7 rebounds over his last six contests.
For the full season, Ayton is averaging a double-double with 58% shooting, and the Suns have a huge edge on the glass in this matchup. Phoenix is a top-five team in the league in offensive rebound rate, and Brooklyn is dead-last in both offensive and defensive rebounding this season. The Suns also put pressure on opponents with 38.5% shooting from 3-point range, and Phoenix averages more than 27 assists per game.
Why the Nets can cover
Brooklyn has outlier strengths on both ends of the floor. The Nets lead the league in blocked shots and 2-point percentage allowed on defense, with opponents making fewer than 51% of attempts inside the arc. Brooklyn is also in the top five in field goal percentage allowed and assists allowed, while landing in the top quartile of the NBA in preventing points in the paint. Phoenix is in the bottom five of the NBA in free throw creation rate, and the Suns don't put immense pressure on the rim.
On offense, the Nets are scoring more than 1.15 points per possession and leading the NBA in shooting efficiency. That includes top-three metrics in field goal percentage, 2-point percentage and 3-point percentage, and the Nets average more than 16 fast break points per game. Phoenix also has foul issues, recording a bottom-five mark in free throw prevention, and that boost at the charity stripe can give Brooklyn confidence and increased efficiency.
How to make Suns vs. Nets picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 237 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread has all of the value. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Nets vs. Suns? And which side of the spread has all of the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
