Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix-suns Picks and Predictions December 23rd 2024

Short-Handed Suns Brace for Nikola Jokic, Nuggets Showdown

The Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets, two Western Conference powerhouses, are finding themselves in a surprising struggle for consistency a third of the way through the NBA season. They face off Monday night in Denver, the first of two matchups in three days.

Suns’ Challenges

Phoenix (14-13) enters the game on a two-game losing streak, with both losses coming at home against teams with losing records. Adding to their woes, the Suns will be without star guard Devin Booker (groin injury) and possibly Grayson Allen (head injury) and Bol Bol (knee contusion).

This places additional pressure on Kevin Durant, who leads the team with 27.4 points per game. Despite scoring 37 and 43 points in the last two games, Durant has expressed frustration with his turnovers, particularly when facing double teams.

“I’ve got to be more patient,” Durant admitted. “Most of the time when I turn the ball over is because I’m trying to play too fast.”

Durant will be supported by Bradley Beal (18.2 PPG), Tyus Jones (12.8 PPG), and Royce O’Neale (11.1 PPG). The Suns also have Jusuf Nurkic, who has proven capable of limiting Nikola Jokic in the past.

Nuggets’ Momentum

Denver (15-11) is coming off a grueling 132-129 overtime win against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. The victory snapped a brief losing skid, but it came at a cost. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray both played more than 40 minutes in the overtime thriller.

Jokic, the reigning MVP, continues to dominate. He recorded his 11th triple-double of the season against the Pelicans with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. His season averages—30.9 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 9.8 assists—underscore his MVP-caliber performance, ranking him among the league leaders in all three categories.

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Jamal Murray has also been heating up, scoring 20 or more points in his last four games, including 27 against New Orleans.

Despite the demanding schedule, Denver has thrived on the second night of back-to-backs, boasting a 3-0 record in such games this season. With five games in seven nights ahead, Jokic remains optimistic about the team’s resilience.

“Seems like we like it when it’s tough for us, as far as the schedule,” Jokic said. “Whenever we have a couple of days off, we play bad.”

Matchup Outlook

The Suns’ depth will be tested against a Nuggets team that has been stellar at home. Denver’s success often hinges on Jokic’s brilliance, but Phoenix will look to slow him down with Nurkic’s defense and Durant’s scoring ability. However, with Booker and Allen sidelined, the Suns will need near-flawless execution to keep pace with Denver’s high-powered offense.

The Nuggets, fresh off a morale-boosting win, aim to maintain momentum and improve their standing in the tightly contested Western Conference. The game presents a pivotal opportunity for both teams to assert their playoff ambitions.