Who: Phoenix Suns (29-33) @ Denver Nuggets (40-22)
When: 8:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Ball Arena — Denver, Colorado
Watch: ESPN8:00 pm
Listen: KMVP 98.7
I’m back on the bandwagon when it comes to the Phoenix Suns making the play-in tournament this postseason, and the reason is Collin Gillespie. That’s why tonight’s game against the Denver Nuggets could mark the beginning of a turnaround for the Suns, proving they still have some fight left. Sometimes, all it takes is one victory and one player stepping up to restore belief that this team still has a shot at the 10th seed.
Collin Gillespie on his mindset: "We were down, so just try to inject some energy, some life, playing hard, competing, talking to the guys, getting stops, being physical, being aggressive. So just trying to do all the little things to just change the game in whatever way I could" pic.twitter.com/RKr5FyYPCE
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) March 5, 2025
Tonight, Gillespie faces his former team, the Nuggets—a squad currently sitting third in the Western Conference standings and pushing for the second spot. This will be a true test for the Suns, who need to play a complete, hard-fought game—not just a strong fourth quarter, but the entire game.
Probable Starters
Suns
Devin Booker
Bradley Beal
Kevin Durant
Bol Bol
Nick Richards
Nuggets
Jamal Murray
Christian Braun
Russell Westbrook
Michael Porter Jr.
Nikola Jokić
Injury Report
Suns
Bradley Beal — PROBABLE (Left Calf; Injury Management)
Cody Martin — OUT (I guess he’d rather be in Charlotte)
Nuggets
Julian Strawther — OUT (Knee)
Aaron Gordon — OUT (Ankle)
DaRon Holmes II - OUT (Achilles)
Uniform Matchup
What to Watch For
Here are a few things you don’t want to see happen if you’re a Suns fan, especially with the Nuggets being undefeated when these factors come into play. First, avoid overtime—Denver is a perfect 4-0 in extra periods. Second, if the Suns have the ball late, they need to take the shot for the win. Don’t settle for a two-point shot just to tie the game, even if Suns analyst Eddie Johnson suggests otherwise. Go for the win!
The Nuggets are also 13-0 when attempting 30+ free throws in a game, and Nikola Jokić is a master at drawing fouls. With Nick Richards likely tasked with defending him, foul trouble could be a real issue—Richards may not even make it to the final buzzer. A fast-paced game would benefit the Suns, preventing things from slowing down into a free-throw battle.
Lastly, Denver is a dominant 15-0 at home when leading at the start of the third quarter. The Suns must play with intensity from the jump, staying locked in for the full 48 minutes. If they come out strong and tighten up their perimeter defense, they’ll have a real shot at grabbing an early lead and holding onto it.
The defense will tighten for the Nuggets in the fourth quarter, so the Suns need to be prepared to keep the ball safe.
Jokic’s defense in the clutch vs the Kings.
Denver had a 70.8 defensive rating in the 4th quarter.
Another example of how he’s able to affect winning on both sides of the ball. pic.twitter.com/6m2nTA9HNb
— SportShorts (@den_shorts) March 6, 2025
Prediction
The Suns will fall in a close one tonight against the Nuggets. My outlook for the rest of the season remains positive, but the Suns will likely continue to fight just enough—both in this game and moving forward—to make us believe in running it back with this same squad.
Exciting times ahead!
Final Prediction: Nuggets 126, Suns 120.