Nuggets visit Suns, owners of the NBA's worst defense

The Denver Nuggets (2-2) visit the Phoenix Suns (1-2) on Friday, October 30, and Nikola Jokic faces the league's worst defense, which allows 122.5 points per 100 possessions. Tip-off is 10:00 PM ET.

Phoenix ranks 30th among 30 teams in that figure, and its opponents shoot an effective 56.8%, 27th in the league. Shots against the Suns go in more often than almost anywhere else.

The glass adds to the problem. Phoenix collects 63.8% of available defensive rebounds, the lowest rate in the NBA, so Denver's misses keep turning into second chances. The Nuggets grab 26.8% of their own misses, 18th in the league, and Jokic averages 2.3 offensive rebounds.

Denver is no stopper itself. Its defensive rating of 111.5 ranks 19th and its net rating of -3.2 is 21st. The Nuggets do defend without fouling: opponents reach the line at a rate of 0.241, fifth best.

Jokic has 10.5 rebounds and nine assists a game, and Jamal Murray leads the team with 22.5 points. For Phoenix, Devin Booker scores 23 a game and shoots 55.6% from the field. Khaman Maluach leads the Suns with 7.3 rebounds.

Denver's injury report is longer. Cameron Johnson (questionable) averages 29.3 minutes and Spencer Jones (out) plays 22.5. Alpha Diallo is also questionable. Phoenix is without center Mark Williams (out), and Oso Ighodaro (questionable) averages 22 minutes.

Both teams arrive with uneven form. The Nuggets won 104-91 at New Orleans in their last game, after a 134-114 loss to Golden State. The Suns lost 125-114 at Oklahoma City, a game after an 83-124 loss at Portland.

Sportsbook prices give Denver a 60.8% chance to win. Keel's projection, built from the players available, puts the Nuggets at 55.8%.