Nuggets @ Suns

Who will WIN this matchup?

Denver Nuggets (47-25)

@ Phoenix Suns (51-21)

Current odds:

Denver Nuggets: (+180)

Phoenix Suns: (-210)

• The line for this game is Suns by 5.5 points.

•  Lineup note: Will Barton (hamstring) expected to play 12-18 minutes Wednesday.

• The Phoenix Suns were 11 years between playoff appearances before dispatching the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Now, suddenly, the Suns are basking in the spotlight as they look to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals when they host the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night. Second-seeded Phoenix notched a 122-105 win in Game 1 on Monday with a powerful 59-33 run over the final 19 minutes, 34 seconds.

• The recovery from a nine-point deficit included spurts of 16-0 and 11-0 as the Suns showed off the style of play that enabled them to record the second-best record (51-21) in the regular season.

• Paul was one of four players to score 20 or more points. He was 6-of-6 shooting in the fourth quarter, when he tallied 14 of his 21 points. He also contributed 11 assists and six rebounds. The stellar effort comes after Paul injured his right shoulder in Game 1 of the series against the Lakers and aggravated it in Game 5. But there was no sign of Paul being hindered on Monday as he took over the game as both a shooter and floor leader.

• Paul received help from his teammates as Mikal Bridges scored a game-high 23 points, Devin Booker contributed 21 points and eight assists and Deandre Ayton added 20 points and 10 rebounds.

• Third-seeded Denver was without starters Jamal Murray (season-ending ACL) and Will Barton (hamstring) in Game 1, but Barton is expected to return Wednesday night as long as he doesn’t suffer a pregame setback. The 30-year-old Barton has been sidelined since injuring the hamstring 59 seconds into a game against the Golden State Warriors on April 23. In 56 regular-season games (52 starts), Barton averaged 12.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists.

• Game 1 was an example of the depth issues Denver has faced in recent weeks. Once the Suns got rolling, the Nuggets couldn’t counter the way they could have earlier in the season when they won two of three meetings with Phoenix.

• NBA MVP Nikola Jokic had 22 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots but didn’t score any points, grab any rebounds or notch any assists in the fourth quarter. He missed both shot attempts to finish 10 of 23 for the contest. At the same time, Paul was lifting his team on his back over the final 12 minutes as the Suns closed the game in style.

• Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. tweaked his troublesome back in Monday’s first half and is listed as questionable for Game 2. He scored 15 points. He will play Wednesday night.