Suns vs. Nuggets Thursday NBA injury report, spread, odds: Chris Paul returns as Phoenix could clinch home-court advantage throughout playoffs

The Phoenix Suns are going to be the No. 1 overall seed in the NBA playoffs regardless, but they can clinch that tonight with a win in Denver and a Memphis home loss to Indiana (not likely). Originally thought perhaps out for the rest of the regular season due to a thumb injury, the Suns will welcome back All-Star point guard Chris Paul against the Nuggets, who were -3.5 at Caesars Sportsbook but now are -1.5 simply as Phoenix is playing the second of a road/road back-to-back.

There was some talk that Paul might return Wednesday in Minnesota, but the team decided against that. The Point God was questionable this morning for the trip to Denver but has been upgraded to probable. Paul, who averages 14.9 points, a league-best 10.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds, will have missed 15 games. The Suns were 11-4 in those. That Paul is back now will mean he for sure will have enough games to qualify for the assist title – James Harden is second at 10.2 apg. Key reserve Cam Johnson, who has missed several games, is questionable tonight.

Phoenix's 57-14 record is the best through 71 games in franchise history and nine games ahead of Memphis for the NBA's best record; the Suns' magic number to clinch that is two. Doubtful the Grizzlies lose tonight vs. the Pacers even though Memphis is resting three top players including Ja Morant.

The Suns already have clinched the Pacific Division title. Are you aware the Pacific champion has reached the NBA Finals seven straight years? Phoenix is a +150 favorite to win the West and +350 leader for its first NBA title. The franchise record for wins in a season is 62 (1992-93 and 2004-05 season).

This game is way more important for the Nuggets, are sixth in the West and 1.5 games ahead of No. 7 Minnesota to avoid the play-in tournament. Denver is hoping for the soon return of Michael Porter Jr. from back surgery, but it won't be tonight.

Denver and Phoenix have split two meetings with both very early in the season and both in Phoenix. Nikola Jokic missed one and had 26.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists in the other – about his season averages overall. The reigning league MVP is +165 for a triple-double tonight and -200 for no. His points/rebounds/assists total is set at Over/Under 48.5. 

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