Game Preview
The Denver Nuggets hit the road to face the Phoenix Suns on Christmas Day, bringing an impressive 16-11 record into the matchup. Over their last 10 games, the Nuggets have won 6 while averaging a blistering 123.2 points per contest, fueled by a scorching 52.8% shooting clip from the field. Their offense has been firing on all cylinders, dishing out 33.6 assists while knocking down a respectable 36.1% of their threes during this stretch.
On the other hand, the Suns find themselves stuck at .500 on the season with a 14-14 mark. Their recent form has been underwhelming, going just 4-6 in their last 10 while struggling to contain opponents, allowing 116.5 points per game. Phoenix's offense has been pedestrian, hovering around 49% shooting and just a shade above 41% from deep over this span.
The Nuggets have been particularly dominant lately, winning 4 of their last 5 while pouring in 124.6 points per game. They've taken care of the ball better too, committing just 16.2 turnovers in these recent contests. Meanwhile, the Suns have dropped 3 of their last 5, failing to crack 120 points while giving up a whopping 121 points per game on nearly 50% shooting from their opponents.
If the recent trends continue, this Christmas Day clash could be a high-scoring affair favoring the scorching hot Nuggets. Denver has shown the ability to consistently fill it up while also locking down defensively, a combination the struggling Suns have yet to find over their last 10 games. All signs point to the Nuggets riding their potent offense and stifling defense to potentially spoil the holiday for the home fans in Phoenix.