The sun is rising, but will they start the second half flat again?

The Phoenix Suns (14-14) host the Denver Nuggets (16-11) at Footprint Center on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m., the final match of the NBA’s five-game Christmas celebration. The game will be broadcast on ABC (Ch. 15 in Phoenix) and ESPN.

It is the fourth Christmas game in a row for Phoenix. They have lost their last three games, including 2022, to the Nuggets.

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

All three are ruled out again for 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 games in a row while the Nuggets have won two games in a row.

Check back here on azcentral.com for live updates during today’s game.

Suns retain the lead at halftime, 58-56

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

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

The Suns shot just 1 of 7 from 3 in the second quarter but took care of the ball. Phoenix only committed four turnovers, which led to just five Denver points.

The Suns are also back on defense as Denver has just one fast break point after giving them 19 transition points on Monday.

The question is how they will start the second half. Denver opened the second half on Monday with an 11-3 run to improve by 15 points. The Nuggets outscored Phoenix 45-28 in the third quarter to take a 21-point lead into the fourth quarter.

The Suns started hot but only led 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 next to Suns team owner Mat Ishbia, the Suns shot 70.6% from the field and made their first six three-pointers. They are 6 of 7 from deep but are only ahead by four points, 38-34.

Kevin Durant had 10 points, but Nikola Jokic gave the Suns trouble again with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting. He scored 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 replaces Booker in the starting lineup, along with Tyus Jones, Bradley Beal, Jusuf Nurkic and Kevin Durant. This will be Dunn’s 10th start of the season.

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The sun is rising, but will they start the second half flat again?

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