The Nuggets had no trouble taking down the Suns on Monday night. Will they do it again on Christmas? It’s hard to see why not—they definitely have the upper hand. Phoenix struggled with shooting, hitting less than 40% from the field, and only got 15 free throws. They also were missing their rock, Devin Booker. Meanwhile, Denver locked down on defense and should be ready to repeat that.

To add to the Suns’ troubles, only two of the big three are available for the match just like Monday. Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal each dropped 23 points in Monday’s loss to the Nuggets, which means they were responsible for more than half of the Suns’ total. Without Booker, they severely lack a significant scoring threat.

Booker won’t be on the court for Phoenix for Christmas, as he’s been ruled out because of a groin injury. The former Kentucky star, averaging 25.1 points and 6.4 assists per game this season, hasn’t played the last two games after injuring himself during last Thursday’s 120-111 loss to the Indiana Pacers. It’s a tough blow for the Suns, who are already struggling.

Along with the 4x All-Star, Grayson Allen and Bol Bol have been ruled out as well, according to Duane Rankin. Allen’s concussion will keep him out for a second straight game. He suffered the injury when Pistons forward Simone Fontecchio elbowed him in the head on a putback during the third quarter on Saturday. On top of that, Bol has missed the last two games after banging knees in practice.

Let’s take a look at what the Suns’ depth chart could look like.

The Suns’ offense has been good except for their last outing. With Devin Booker sidelined, Kevin Durant will have to shoulder more responsibility. But their defense? That remains the problem.

Suns’ defense was the issue last game, but without Booker their offense also took a hit…

The Suns are nearing a crossroads in their 2024-25 season. If things don’t change soon, they could face a major roster shakeup. Their recent 117-90 loss to the Nuggets dropped them to a 14-14 record, despite missing key players Devin Booker and Grayson Allen.

Even without those two, Phoenix should’ve been better.

The defense, especially in rotations, continues to be a massive problem. Simple mistakes like poor closeouts and botched rotations allowed the Nuggets to dominate. On offense, Phoenix failed to capitalize on Denver’s struggles when star Nikola Jokic went to the bench, letting a close game slip away.

The Suns’ third-quarter struggles were glaring, as they fell behind by 20 within minutes. Last year’s fourth-quarter issues seem to have carried over, and now it’s a full-team problem.

Royce O’Neale’s injury, though not major, adds to their woes. He’s been one of the most consistent players this season, and his absence could make things worse.

This is crunch time for Phoenix. The team has talent, but it’s unclear if they can pull it together. Orlando recently showed resilience by beating the Celtics despite major injuries. Can the Suns do the same? With the trade deadline looming, it’s make-or-break time.