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Ranking the 2022 NBA Christmas games by intrigue

By Holden Walter-Warner

May 16, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) talks to Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) after the game at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
May 16, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) talks to Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) after the game at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Christmas
Phoenix Suns G Devin Booker and Denver Nuggets F Aaron Gordon (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

NBA Christmas Game 3. Phoenix Suns at Denver Nuggets, 10:30 PM ET

These franchises don’t necessarily have the same caches as the Lakers or Knicks, but this could prove to be the most intriguing game of the day. The only concern is health.

After Phoenix’s surprising bubble run a couple of years ago, the team made the NBA Finals in 2021, where it fell to Milwaukee. Last season, Phoenix fell even earlier in the postseason, failing to show up to an elimination game against the Mavs.

The Suns are largely returning the same team from a year ago, led by Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton. While that team has a high ceiling, it also has an unfortunate history of being beset by injuries; all three of those players missed at least 14 games last season.

There are not many teams that know the pain of injuries better than the Denver Nuggets. The team hasn’t been able to make a deep playoff run in recent years, despite center Nikola Jokic taking home back-to-back MVP crowns.

Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. both had virtually their entire seasons wiped out by injuries last year. While Murray’s issue was a new one for the player, Porter’s back injuries have been a reoccurring issue since college. At this point, it’s getting hard to believe he’ll be able to be a regular feature of a team’s lineup.

If everyone is healthy for this game, it could be the best of the day. But without that, it may not be worth staying up to watch for the east coast contingency.

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