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Preview: Denver Nuggets face struggling Phoenix Suns – Denver Stiffs

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Preview: Denver Nuggets face struggling Phoenix Suns – Denver Stiffs


The Denver Nuggets, and every other team in the NBA, are in the thick of the stretch run. For the Nuggets that means trying to secure the two seed in the West. For their opponents, the Phoenix Suns, that means hanging on by a thread just hoping at a chance for the play-in. Phoenix has taken over as the most disappointing team in the NBA this season. A roster loaded with “superstars,” all its really been is a roster loaded with a bloated payroll and poor team chemistry. Kevin Durant looks to be on his way out and Bradley Beal might be the worst contract in the entire NBA. All of this happens while Devin Booker is in his prime. To say Phoenix is a mess right now would be a massive understatement.

The Essentials

Who: Denver Nuggets (40-22) vs Phoenix Suns (29-33)

When: 7PM MST

Where: The Can. Denver, CO

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How to watch/listen: Due to popular demand, we are reiterating that we do not support piracy…except the romanticized 17th century type. Altitude TV, Altitude+, ESPN, Altitude Radio 92.5FM. Show up in a tweed blazer with thick glasses and a corn cob pipe and tell security you are the Suns newest team therapist.

Rival blog: Bright Side of the Sun

The Matchup

Position Nuggets Suns Advantage
PG Jamal Murray Devin Booker Suns
SG Russell Westbrook Bradley Beal Even
SF Christian Braun Kevin Durant Suns
PF Michael Porter Jr. Bol Bol Nuggets
C Nikola Jokic Nick Richards Nuggets
Bench Jalen Pickett, Peyton Watson, Zeke Nnaji, Rotation Player X Royce O’Neale, Mason Plumlee, Tyus Jones, Grayson Allen, Colin Gillespie Even

Injury report: Zeke Nnaji – probable (ankle), Nikola Jokic – questionable (ankle), Aaron Gordon – questionable (ankle), Julian Strawther – out (knee), DaRon Holmes II – out (achilles), PJ Hall – out (G-League); Bradley Beal – questionable (calf), Monte Morris – out (back), Cody Martin – out (hernia), Jalen Bridges – out (G-League).

The Three Things

The thing to watch for: Bench Scoring

Oct 15, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Julian Strawther (3) with forward Peyton Watson (8) and forward Hunter Tyson (4) and guard Jalen Pickett (24) in the second quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The Nuggets have dealt with nagging injuries all season and seem to always be missing at least one piece of their rotation. Right now that person is their best shooter off the bench, Julian Strawther, who is out for at least a month. Compounding that issue is Aaron Gordon’s latest lower body injury, a left ankle sprain, which kept him out of Denver’s last couple games. When AG is out, Michael Malone has inserted Russell Westbrook into the starting lineup lately. Westbrook is the best scorer on Denver’s bench when they are fully healthy. With him starting and Strawther sitting it leaves the Nuggets with a bench of Jalen Pickett, Peyton Watson, Zeke Nnaji and a 4th situational player who is not a scorer. Against the Sacramento Kings it was Nnaji providing points off the bench but it would be foolish to expect any of these guys to give you consistent offensive production. Malone is going to have to coach his ass off in the bench minutes with getting the right lineup combinations and getting those combinations into good sets to create easy buckets.

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The thing to remember: Phoenix ain’t quite out of it yet

It’s easy to look at the Suns, say they are done and chalk this game up as a win. Listen, things aren’t going well and no one is denying that but this team is still extremely talented. They also definitely have not given up. Look no further than the Suns last game when they played the Los Angeles Clippers and rallied back from twenty-three points down in the second half to secure a victory. They also remain just two games back in the loss column from the final play-in spot. Who knows what happens if they get-in. Thanks to the Durant trade, Phoenix has no 1st round pick this year so there’s no motivation for tanking at any level of the organization and everyone should be all in on getting a chance at a title run no matter how improbable it is. Denver has to approach this game like they are playing a very talented team who is more desperate than anyone.

The thing to bet: Jamal Murray over 23.5 points (+100)

Not exactly sure who Phoenix is planning on defending Murray with. They’ll likely rotate Grayson Allen or Royce O’neal onto him when those guys check in but Phoenix’s current starting unit is bereft of guard defenders (plus, Allen & O’Neal are solid but not lockdown defenders). Murray put up thirty points on Phoenix a month ago and has topped 23 points in two of the three contests this season. At even money I like this bet quite a bit.

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‘Full send, full speed;’ Red Bull brings Soapbox racing back to Denver

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‘Full send, full speed;’ Red Bull brings Soapbox racing back to Denver


The sun was shining, the free Red Bull was flowing and the carts were crashing and falling apart. Red Bull’s Soapbox Races were held Saturday in the parking lot of Denver’s Empower Field. Contestants loaded up shoddy, jerry-rigged carts to race them through a short course as thousands looked on, eager to see a record-breaking […]



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Kalshi World Cup Promo Code DENVER: Claim $10 Trading Bonus for Any Match – Denver Stiffs

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Kalshi World Cup Promo Code DENVER: Claim  Trading Bonus for Any Match – Denver Stiffs


Sports fans can capitalize on Kalshi World Cup promo code DENVER and make $10 in trades to unlock $10 in bonuses. Click here to get in on the action.


Don’t miss out on the chance to grab this bonus for Saturday’s World Cup action. Brazil will take the field for the first time and Morocco is looking to spoil the party. New players who take advantage of this Kalshi promo will have a head start.

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Kalshi World Cup Promo Code DENVER Unlocks $10 Bonus

Kalshi Promo Code DENVER
New Kalshi User Offer $10 Sign-Up Bonus
Terms and Conditions 18+ and Present in the US
Bonus Last Verified On June 13, 2026

New Kalshi customers can secure a $10 sign-up bonus to use on the full slate of Round 1 World Cup matchups. Whether you are looking to make predictions on Brazil taking on Morocco or Haiti facing off against Scotland, users can apply the bonus on any of the scheduled World Cup matches. Kalshi’s unique prediction markets offer an exciting way to get involved in the action across the entire opening round of the tournament.

To claim this offer, eligible new users must make a first-time deposit of at least $1. The $10 bonus will be unlocked after the user has made $10 in trades on the platform’s prediction markets. Kalshi is legally available in all 50 states, and users must be at least 18 years old to play.

While this promotion is a great way to engage with international soccer, the platform’s offerings extend far beyond the pitch. Once registered, new users can also use their trades on a wide variety of prediction markets covering the NBA, NHL, and MLB, providing year-round action across all major professional sports.

World Cup Matches: Win Probabilities

When assessing the opening round fixtures, having a clear view of the potential outcomes can help guide your predictions. Brazil vs. Morocco is the marquee match of the weekend, but there are tons of options for fans. Take a look at the full schedule on Saturday:

  • Switzerland vs. Qatar
  • Brazil vs. Morocco
  • Scotland vs. Haiti
  • Turkiye vs. Australia

These win probabilities highlight the favorites and potential upsets on the current schedule, providing valuable insight before you lock in any trades. For new users, this data serves as a great starting point for deciding where to apply the $10 sign-up bonus provided by the Kalshi promo code. By placing $10 in trades on any of these specific World Cup prediction markets, eligible customers will unlock their welcome bonus while getting in on the tournament action.

How to Redeem Kalshi World Cup Promo Code DENVER

Securing your sign-up bonus is a straightforward process. Once activated, the $10 bonus is incredibly versatile—you can use it on ANY of the upcoming World Cup matches, or any World Cup match this week, rather than being restricted to just one game. Whether you want to focus your trades on Brazil taking on Morocco or Scotland’s matchup against Haiti, your welcome bonus can be utilized across the entire slate.

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To activate the offer, follow these steps:

  1. Register an Account: Create and register your new account by entering standard personal information and providing proof of identification.
  2. Use the Promo Code: Be sure to enter the promo code DENVER during the registration process.
  3. Make a Deposit: Make a first-time deposit of at least $1 to fund your account.
  4. Place Your Trades: Make $10 worth of trades on Kalshi’s prediction markets. You do not have to make any single trade worth $10; simply accumulating a sum of $10 in total trades will fulfill the requirement.

As soon as your total trades reach the $10 threshold, your $10 sign-up bonus will be unlocked and available to use on your preferred World Cup markets.



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Why Nuggets Could Be Closer to a Championship Than It Seems

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Why Nuggets Could Be Closer to a Championship Than It Seems


Since winning it all in 2023, the Denver Nuggets have been disappointing. Of course, they did their job by winning a championship, but they have failed to follow it up with any real success. In their three playoff runs since, they have been knocked out of the second round twice, and most recently, suffered a first-round exit.

Despite this, the Nuggets could be much closer to getting back into championship conversations than it would seem, even if they have a relatively quiet 2026 offseason.

Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are at their best

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Apr 6, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) and center Nikola Jokic (15) in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Ball Arena. | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Of course, the Nuggets are built around their All-NBA duo of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Granted, there have been some conversations about the Nuggets potentially moving on from Murray, but they have already proven to be one of the best duos in the league and are unlikely to break that up.

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This past season, Jokic and Murray both reached their peaks. Sure, Jokic’s production took a hit after a knee injury sidelined him for a month, but Murray had the best season of his career, by far. With both stars in the prime of their careers, it should be the perfect time for Denver to compete for another championship.

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If both stars are healthy, the Nuggets are automatically in contention to be one of the Western Conference’s biggest title threats, but it all comes down to their supporting cast.

Depth upgrades?

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Mar 24, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones (21) against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

While the Nuggets might not need to make any huge moves this offseason, improving their depth should be a priority. As the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs face off in the NBA Finals, we see how important depth is. Guys like Dylan Harper, Landry Shamet, and Jose Alvarado are all guys who have come off the bench and made an impact, and the Nuggets need that.

When healthy, the Nuggets actually had a good bench unit this past season. Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown, Peyton Watson, and Spencer Jones all made an impact, but it just never came together at the right time. Not to mention, with all of their injury problems, it feels like they never had a full bench unit to lean on.

The Nuggets do not need to waste resources breaking up their core this offseason. If they can keep Jokic and Murray together, while simply reinforcing their supporting cast, there is no doubt that they can compete for a championship.

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A better defensive mindset

Jan 21, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32) reacts with guard Christian Braun (0) after a play in the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Ball Arena. | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
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The Nuggets had the 21st-ranked defense in the NBA this season. Despite having the league’s top offense, it could not make up for their poor defense. Granted, even their offense fell apart against a tough Minnesota Timberwolves team in the playoffs, but it is clear that teams need defense to compete for a title.

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First, the Nuggets need to actually acquire better defenders. As they look to fill out their roster, they should be searching for defensive-minded role players. Even then, a better supporting cast will not do all the work. Head coach David Adelman needs to make sure his team is fully bought in on the defensive side of the ball next season.

With that, guys like Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon, barring a trade, should be stepping up defensively. If those two are not helping out on the defensive end, their spots in Denver’s lineup become more expendable.

There were far too many defensive lapses in their first-round series that led to easy paint points and open three-pointers, and while better defenders will help that, it also stems from the team’s game plan and mindset.

With some minor tweaks this offseason, again, nothing major, the Nuggets should be back to title contention next season. Unfortunately, the West is only getting tougher, with teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder running the conference, but the Nuggets have all the pieces to compete with the best.

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