Game Preview: Suns host Nuggets in Christmas Day Special

There’s nothing special about the way the Suns are playing basketball right now. Let’s hope that changes tonight.

Who: Phoenix Suns (14-14) vs. Denver Nuggets (16-11)

When: 8:30 pm Arizona Time

Where: Footprint Center — Phoenix, Arizona

Watch: ABC/ESPN, AZFamily, Suns Live

Listen: KMVP 98.7

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First of all, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of our Bright Siders. Thank you for sticking with us in what has been a rough, up-and-down season thus far.

The Suns return to the Christmas Day slate for a fourth-straight season, after the 2021 Christmas Day game was their first since 2009. Their all-time record in Christmas Day games is 12-9. This marks their second all-time Christmas Day matchup with Denver with the previous lone matchup coming in 2022.

Phoenix gets a familiar opponent, seeing as their last matchup on Monday night was against this same Nuggets squad in a 117-90 loss in Denver.

The Suns will be without Devin Booker and Grayson Allen for the second consecutive game. Suns fans will wake up to coal in their bags reading this one. It’s going to be another uphill climb for a team that has shown they cannot withstand injuries.

Probable Starters

Injury Report

Suns

• Grayson Allen — OUT (Concussion Protocol)
• Bol Bol — OUT (Left Knee Contusion)
• Devin Booker — OUT (Left Groin Soreness)
• Collin Gillespie — OUT (Right Ankle Fracture)

Nuggets

• Jamal Murray — QUESTIONABLE (Right Ankjle Sprain)
• Vlatko Cancar — OUT (Left Knee Surgery)
• DaRon Holmes, II — OUT (Right Achilles Tendon)

Uniform Matchup

What to Watch For

Fight.

Where is it?

This is the same exact bullet point that John Voita left here for the last preview. I’m going to keep it here because the sentiment looms. Where is the sense of urgency? This team is “all-in” as constructed with one goal in mind. It sure does not feel like it.

These Phoenix Suns are soft. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. The lack of passion has been frustrating to watch and any time they face adversity they crumble.

This is the mood around a team that appears to be self-aware of this, too. Even rookie Oso Ighodaro had a blunt response to the Suns’ loss.

“We just didn’t play hard enough. There’s no scheme, there’s no — no matter how good your players are, if we’re not playing hard enough, we can’t win. So we all are aware of that.”

Joker vs. Slim Reaper

Nikola Jokic is having the season of a lifetime yet again. He is doing it all for a Denver team that has had its share of struggles.

The Joker had 32 points in 30 minutes of 12-17 shooting from the field in Monday’s victory over Phoenix. The Suns have no answer for him, and I expect that to continue to be the case in tonight’s Christmas Day finale.

Which star will shine brightest?

Kevin Durant has shown he is still capable of being that guy. Sure, he has his turnover issues, but overall his impact on both ends continues to be stellar. He can’t do it all.

The role players must step up. Bradley Beal must step up you know what… you’ve already heard this all season long. Who will step up and help this team win a much-needed game?

Buehler…

Key to a Suns Win

Show up. Show emotion. Protect your home floor.

It would be a Christmas miracle (win) we are all hoping for but not expecting.

Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images

Prediction

The Suns’ defense remains a problem. Prove me wrong… I just don’t have the energy to be optimistic anymore.

Nuggets 123, Suns 109

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Special Note: Be sure to check this out. Should be an interesting segment.

Here’s a clip that leaked out from ESPN NBA’s X account: