The sun rises, but will the 2nd half start flat again?

On By Littum

game

The Phoenix Suns (14-14) hosted by Denver Nuggets (16-11) Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. at the Footprint Center, the final matchup of the NBA’s five-game Christmas Day showcase. The game airs on ABC (Ch. 15 in Phoenix) and ESPN.

This will be the fourth straight Christmas game for Phoenix. They have lost their last three, including 2022, against the Nuggets.

The Nuggets routed the Suns 117-90 Monday in Denver as Phoenix was without Devin Booker (strained left groin) for the second straight game. Grayson Allen (concussion protocol) and Bol Bol (left knee bruise) were also out.

All three have been banned again on Wednesday.

Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal led the Suns with 23 points each, while Denver’s Nikola Jokic scored 32 and Michael Porter Jr. added 24. The Suns have lost three straight, while the Nuggets have won two straight.

Check back here on azcentral.com for live updates throughout tonight’s game.

The Suns have cooled off from 3, but still hold the lead at the half, 58-56, as Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal each have 14 points. They each scored 23 in Monday’s 117-90 loss at Denver.

Nikola Jokic scored just two of his 17 points in the second quarter, but Michael Porter Jr. is up to 11 points on 3-of-6 shooting. He went for 24 points Monday on 10-of-12 shooting.

The Suns shot just 1-of-7 from 3 in the second quarter, but have taken care of the ball. Phoenix has just four turnovers, leading to just five Denver points.

The Suns have also come back on defense as Denver has just one fast break point after holding them to 19 transition points on Monday.

The question is how they start the second half. Denver opened Monday’s second half on an 11-3 run to go up by 15 points. The Nuggets outscored Phoenix, 45-28, in the third quarter to take a 21-point advantage into the fourth quarter.

Soler starts hot, but only leads by four after the first quarter

The Suns used a 14-5 run to take a 38-34 lead after one quarter.

With Kevin Durant’s mother, Mama Durant, sitting courtside right near Suns team owner Mat Ishbia, the Suns shot 70.6% from the field and hit their first six 3-pointers. They are 6-of-7 from deep, but are only up four points, 38-34.

Kevin Durant has 10 points, but Nikola Jokic again cooks the Suns with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting. He went for 32 points in just three quarters in Denver’s 117-90 home win over Phoenix on Monday.

Dunn starts for Booker

Suns rookie Ryan Dunn will start for Booker along with Tyus Jones, Bradley Beal, Jusuf Nurkic and Kevin Durant. This will be Dunn’s 10th start of the season.

He is averaging six points and 2.5 rebounds. Sun coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game that he wants Dunn to impact the game with his defense and athleticism.

The Nuggets will start Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic, Christian Braun and Jamal Murray.

Jamal Murray available, Booker update

Jamal Murray (right ankle sprain) is available after previously being ruled questionable. Murray missed Monday’s game against the Suns.

As for Booker, Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said Booker did “a little bit” of work on the court Wednesday and is “pretty much progressing as expected.”

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