The Nuggets earned the honor of being awarded a Christmas Day game; a sign of the franchise’s prestige. The league uses Christmas as a day to showcase the league’s brightest stars and best teams. Obviously, they set the schedule before the season starts, so some forecasting and prognosticating are involved, but Adam Silver and company clearly value Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
When the league set the slate, they may have assumed that Nuggets vs. Suns would be a marquee matchup of Western Conference powerhouses. But instead, the Nuggets sit in 5th place in the West, while the Suns are currently in 11th, outside the play-in picture.
Still, these teams are both loaded with star talent and boast the same ambitions as when the season started. This game could serve as a turning point for either team and a launching point to build some momentum and get ready to go on a run in the new year.
Regardless of whether or not that’s the case, every game is important in the loaded Western Conference standings and this one is no exception. Both teams need a win and fans should get treated to a hotly contested matchup featuring some of the biggest stars in the NBA. But, this star may not have all the star power the league was hoping for.
Denver Nuggets injury report
The Nuggets will, of course, be without Vlatko Cancar and DaRon Holmes II, but Jamal Murray has also popped up on the injury report. He’s been generally healthy this season and playing well recently, but he missed the team’s last game with an ankle injury and is now listed as questionable for Christmas night.
Phoenix Suns injury report
The Suns enter the game with injury concerns of their own. They’ll be without Devin Booker (groin), Grayson Allen (concussion), Bol Bol, and Collin Gillespie. Booker and Allen are crucial players for a Suns team that is already lacking depth.
Nuggets @ Suns betting odds
Given the players missing on the Suns’ side and their struggles so far this season, the Nuggets come in as 2.5-point favorites on the road. Whether or not Murray is able to play, this game will be headlined by Nikola Jokic and Kevin Durant. This should be a great way to cap off an outstanding day of Christmas basketball.