That was fa-la-la-la-la-fun.
The Phoenix Suns did it. They brought us joy on Christmas Day, something we’ve not experienced in 15 years. A win against the Denver Nuggets, doing so by a score of 110-100, was the perfect nightcap to a day of quality NBA basketball. It feels nice typing those words out. With ratings down nationally and the Suns struggling locally, it’s been a while since we’ve felt good about the sport we love.
This is the best we’ve seen the Suns play in three weeks.
— John Voita (@DarthVoita) December 26, 2024
The Suns won the game by doing something we’ve seen them struggle without throughout the first two months of the season: effort on defense.
Putting in the work on the defensive end pays off. When you have Ryan Dunn and Josh Okogie guarding Jamal Murray, imposing their will by attacking the point of attack, great things happen. Sometimes it feels that simple. Fluster the opponent’s primary ball handler, effectively swarm on defense, and team rebound. The result? Easy opportunities on the other end of the floor.
The script did a full 180 yesterday. For once, it was the Nuggets coughing up the rock and the Suns were cashing in on their generosity. Denver racked up 16 turnovers, practically gift-wrapping 20 points for Phoenix. Meanwhile, the Suns kept their own mistakes to a bare minimum, coughing it up just nine times, a number that ties their second-lowest turnover total of the season.
And here’s the kicker: every time the Suns have turned the ball over nine times or fewer this season, they’re undefeated. Four games. Four wins. Maybe there’s something to this whole “protect the ball” concept after all…
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
Mariah Carey has cashed in on her Christmastime popularity, and she did so again after the Suns’ 90-point output on Monday.
Ah, the bittersweet post-Christmas purge. It’s that time, folks. The time to bid farewell to Mariah, our seasonal siren, our Queen of Yuletide. Back to the vault she goes, like a glittering Christmas ornament boxed up in tissue paper, only to emerge next November with the same high notes and holiday cheer.
Sure, you might catch a rogue Mariah track drifting in the background of a rom-com or echoing faintly through an elevator speaker. When you do, maybe — just maybe — you’ll think of us. You’ll think of Bright Side. How, for one brief, glorious moment, Mariah Carey was on par with Devin Booker himself, reigning as the Bright Side Baller. An honor so rare, it’s practically mythological.
But like all legends, her reign is fleeting. Farewell, Mariah. May your whistle tones rest easy until next year’s chaos calls you back.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Some quality performances in this one!
Kevin Durant
27 points (9-of-26, 0-of-5 3PT), 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 0 turnovers, +3 +/-
Bradley Beal
27 points (11-of-21, 3-of-7 3PT), 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, 3 turnovers, +12 +/-
Tyus Jones
17 points (7-of-9, 3-of-5 3PT), 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, +2 +/-
Ryan Dunn
5 points (2-of-3, 1-of-2 3PT), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, +3 +/-
Josh Okogie
7 points (3-of-6, 1-of-3 3PT), 2 rebounds, 1 steal, +9 +/-
Who was the merriest of them all?