The Phoenix Suns are starting to find their rhythm. After a shaky 2-4 start to the season, they rebounded with a strong November, going 10-5 and climbing their way into the thick of the Western Conference playoff picture. Now sitting at 12-9 and holding the 7th seed, the Suns are showing signs of cohesion, even as they navigate injuries and a brutal schedule.
But December? December’s going to be a different kind of test.
Road Warriors: Suns Face a Gauntlet to Start the Month
Phoenix opens the month with a demanding four-game road trip, and it’s not just any stretch-it’s a run through the teeth of the Western Conference elite.
- Dec. 1 @ Lakers
- Dec. 5 @ Rockets
- Dec. 8 @ Timberwolves
- Dec. 10 @ Thunder (NBA Cup Quarterfinal)
Every one of these teams is currently sitting in the top six of the West, and together they’re riding a combined 23-game win streak. The Thunder alone have rattled off 11 straight. This isn’t just a road trip-it’s a playoff-level gauntlet in early December.
The Lakers, who the Suns haven’t faced yet this season, will be their first opponent. That’s a marquee matchup, not just because of the standings, but because it’s Phoenix’s first look at the revamped Lakers squad that’s been surging lately.
Then comes a reunion with Kevin Durant-except this time, he’ll be wearing Rockets red. It’s the first time Phoenix will face Durant since the offseason trade, and you can bet there’ll be extra juice in that one.
Minnesota will be looking to even the score after the Suns pulled off a comeback win against them earlier in the year. And then there’s the NBA Cup Quarterfinal against the Thunder-a rematch of one of Phoenix’s most competitive games of the season. Despite falling short in that one, the Suns proved they could hang with one of the league’s hottest teams.
If Phoenix gets past OKC, they’ll face the winner of the Lakers-Spurs quarterfinal. A win there would send them to the NBA Cup Final against the East Bracket winner. That final game wouldn’t count toward the regular season standings, but it would be a statement win for a team still trying to define its identity.
Lose to the Thunder, and they’ll face the loser of the Lakers-Spurs matchup instead.
For fans keeping track at home: the Lakers and Timberwolves games will be streaming on Peacock, while the Thunder matchup will be on Amazon Prime Video.
Home Cooking and Divisional Drama
After the road trip, the Suns get a brief reprieve with a stretch of home games-and a chance to settle some scores within the division.
They’ll face the Warriors, Clippers, and Kings in back-to-back-to-back games. That Warriors matchup in particular has some bite. Golden State beat Phoenix back on November 4, and the Suns will be looking to return the favor.
These games could also mark the return of Jalen Green. The young guard has been sidelined since injuring his right hamstring on November 8, and with his re-evaluation window falling between December 18 and 23, there’s a chance he could be back in uniform for this stretch. His return would give the Suns another offensive weapon-and some much-needed depth in the backcourt.
One notable absence from the December slate? A Christmas Day game.
After four straight years playing on the holiday, the Suns will be off this year. The trade of Kevin Durant and their current place in the standings likely played a role in that decision, but it’s still a reminder of how quickly the league’s spotlight can shift.
Wrapping Up 2025 with a Cross-Country Trip
Phoenix will close out the calendar year on the road once again, this time with a “baseball-style” series in New Orleans against the Pelicans. When these teams met earlier in the season, Grayson Allen exploded for a career-high 42 points and broke the franchise record for threes in a game with 10. Don’t be surprised if the Pelicans come in with a bit more defensive urgency this time around.
After that, it’s off to Washington to face the struggling Wizards-currently holding the league’s worst record-before finishing the year in Cleveland. The Cavaliers, despite a 12-9 start and a recent slump, are still hanging around the top half of the Eastern Conference. It’ll be a good test to see how Phoenix handles a physical, playoff-caliber opponent on the road.
So, What’s Next?
November was a step forward. Ten wins in a month where only 6.9% of fans expected that outcome?
That’s a team outperforming the noise. But December’s going to be a different beast.
Twelve games on the schedule, with a possible 13th if they make it to the NBA Cup Final. The stakes are higher, the opponents tougher, and the margin for error smaller.
This month could tell us a lot about who the Suns really are. Can they weather the storm on the road?
Can they capitalize on home-court advantage against division rivals? And can they make a real run in the inaugural NBA Cup?
We’re about to find out.