The finale of the NBA Christmas showcase is the first of three meetings between the Suns and Nuggets, two teams jockeying for position atop the crowded Western Conference.
Phoenix won the season series last year, 2–1, and each game was decided by double digits. Denver is 1–6 all-time on Christmas and lost its most recent appearance in 2021. The Suns played on the holiday for the first time in more than a decade last season and also lost.
Both teams project to have starters missing due to injury. For the Nuggets, Michael Porter Jr.