Report: Denver Nuggets to host Phoenix Suns for Christmas Day game

According to the initial draft of the 2022-23 NBA schedule, the Denver Nuggets will host the Phoenix Suns for a Christmas Day game, as reported by the Denver Post.

The Nuggets did not participate in the 2021-22 Christmas Day game despite having MVP Nikola Jokic on their roster. In the last season’s playoffs, Denver lost to the year’s champion, the Golden State Warriors, in the first round. Since joining the NBA in 1976, they have made only seven Christmas Day appearances.

However, analysts have predicted that their chances of winning this year’s title will be higher. Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. recently returned from their injuries. The Nuggets also acquired Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown in the offseason for their defensive line.

Meanwhile, the Suns lost to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 7 of the semifinals in the Western Conference. Phoenix recently re-signed Deandre Ayton to a long-term contract after the player reportedly had conflicts with coach Monty Williams and point guard Chris Paul.

The Christmas game will be a rematch for the Nuggets and Suns after their meeting in the semifinal of the 2021 Western Conference. Phoenix won the series with a clean sweep of 4-0. In the 2021-22 season, the Suns also had more wins in games against the Nuggets, 2-1.

There will also be several other teams playing on Christmas, according to the schedule draft.

The Warriors will host their rival, the Memphis Grizzlies, which they defeated in last year’s playoffs. Los Angeles Lakers and Mavericks will also face off against each other. The Mavericks defeated the Lakers in their last meeting earlier this year.

This schedule draft also showed that the Warriors would host the Lakers on opening night, as reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic. Their last meeting was on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2021.