Suns Get Final Verdict on NBA Christmas Day Game

The Phoenix Suns will not be playing on Christmas.

Apr 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns have been an off-and-on team the NBA's used for Christmas Day games in recent years, though 2026 will be a different story.

The Suns will not be playing on the holiday, as the league — ahead of its full schedule release on Thursday — announced the following Christmas matchups:

• San Antonio Spurs @ New York Knicks
• Miami Heat @ Boston Celtics
• Philadelphia 76ers @ Los Angeles Lakers
• Oklahoma City Thunder @ Minnesota Timberwolves
• Denver Nuggets @ Golden State Warriors

The Suns previously played on Christmas Day for four consecutive years from 2021-24 before missing the holiday last season. There was some hope, after a surprise push to the playoffs, that the Suns would again be participants. However, that's not quite the case.

That speaks more to Phoenix's star power as opposed to the talent and/or expectations. While Devin Booker is obviously a notable star, globally massive figures such as Steph Curry (who missed the playoffs and were actually eliminated by the Suns last year) will always get the nod on Christmas.

Names such as Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks weren't big enough to sway the league.

That's fine, and actually may be preferred by some players to spend the holiday with their famalies.

Previously, names such as Booker have spoken highly about playing on the holiday.

"It's a big deal," he said back in 2022.

"Some of my earliest memories of watching basketball are Christmas games. Spending time with your family and now starting. Earlier in my career, not being a part of it and kind of flipping the script, I've been in two now. It's exciting." 

The Suns have an all-time record of 13-9 on Christmas dating back to 1968. They've won two of their last nine dating back to 1995.

With the Cardinals and Diamondbacks not playing on Christmas, the Suns were local fans' best shot at seeing one of their teams play, though the overall NBA and NFL slate is exciting nonetheless.

Phoenix's full 2026-27 schedule is set to release later this week, though we do know they'll play Golden State on Nov. 2 at Mortgage Matchup Center while facing off against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on Nov. 15.