The finale of the NBA Christmas show is the first of three matches between the two teams. suns and ingotstwo teams compete for the top spot in the crowded Western Conference.
Phoenix won the season streak 2-1 last year and every game was determined by double digits. Denver is 1-6 all-time at Christmas and lost its last appearance in 2021. The Suns played and lost last season for the first time in more than a decade.
Both teams anticipate that their starting five players will be missing due to injury. For nuggets, Michael Porter Jr. (heel) missed the last 13 games and Jamal Murat (knee) Didn’t play on Tuesday. Phoenix feels even more lacking—Cameron Johnson (knee) hasn’t played in over a month, Cameron Payne (foot) missed last week and Devin Booker (crotch) was absent from the last two games but scored 58 points the last time he took the field.
Watch out for these five players, as well as everyone else who might appear on the injury report before the Sunday call.
Suns vs. Nuggets Odds, Spread, Win, Over/Under
Time: 10:30 PM ET (ABC, ESPN)
Spread: Suns +2.5 (-110) | Ingots -2.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Suns (+115) | Ingots (-138)
Total: 230.5 — Over (-110) | below (-110)
*Editor’s Note: All statistics, records and odds are valid until 23 December.
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Nuggets Offensive and Defense Stats
Porter Jr. and as Murray steps aside once more, Nikola Jokic He plays at the reigning MVP level in a row who could win the award for the third time. The Nuggets have won five of their last six games after a three-game losing streak throughout the season. Jokic’s averages meanwhile were: 30.8 points, 14.5 rebounds and 10.3 assists – his standout feature being a Wilt Chamberlain-like triple-double with 40 points, 27 rebounds, 10 assists.
Denver’s defense is still a concern as they are ranked 24th. Combined with their #3 offensive rating, the Nuggets even climbed to 10th place in the net rating. They had perhaps their best defensive performance of the season against the Grizzlies, who had 91 points despite Ja Morant’s 35 points last time.
At high altitude, Denver has traditionally been a tough place to win, and has been right with 10–3 points for the home team at Ball Arena this season.
Suns Offensive and Defense Stats
December has been tough for the Suns. They entered the moon with a 15-6 record and are 4-7 so far, including a five-game slip. Chris Paul He returned to the squad two weeks ago and played better than he did earlier in the year. Still, Booker’s occasional absence hindered the team; Phoenix is 1-3 without him.
Phoenix’s advanced stats tell the story of a team with a better record than their top four West positions: #1. 1 in offensive rating, 10 in defense and 3 in net rating. A weak 5-8 mark is to blame in clutch situations. Last season, they were the league’s best 33-9 in such scenarios.
Jae Crowder’s overtime and Johnson’s injury definitely limit the Suns’ ability to stay defensive, but Monty Williams is once again putting together the coaching masterclass in a season where setbacks are expected following a postseason flare-up.
Betting Analysis and Predictions
If Booker can’t go, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Phoenix will keep up with Denver, given both teams’ recent performance and the other talents on the Suns injury report. But if he’s active, it’s impossible to count his team as he reminds everyone against New Orleans. Still too much to limit alone for Jokić, Deandre Ayton, or almost any other center. The way he can raise secondary scorers like Bones Hyland and Bruce Brown in the Nuggets makes him a unique ability to carry such a heavy offensive load.
The Under are just 5–9 outside of Arizona, in nine of Denver’s 13 home games so far and just over half of Phoenix’s.
BET: Nuggets -2.5 (-110), Under 231.5 (-110)
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Suns Betting Record and Statistics
Straight Record: 19–13
Against Spread Record: 17–15
Over/Under Record: 15–16–1
Points Per Game (Ranking): 115.7 (6)
Allowed Points Per Game (Ranking): 110.7 (7)
Nuggets Betting Record and Statistics
Straight Record: 19–11
Against Difference Record: 13–17
Over/Under Record: 14–16
Points Per Game (Ranking): 115.4 (7)
Points Allowed Per Game (Ranking): 114.0 (17)
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