PREVIEW: The Denver Nuggets visit the Phoenix Suns at the Mortgage Matchup Center on Saturday night , setting up a matchup between two Western Conference contenders looking to bounce back from recent setbacks. Denver has cooled off recently, splitting their last six games after a painful 139-136 loss to the Spurs , while Phoenix has won 11 of their past 15 contests but fell just short to the Thunder 123-119 on the road. The Nuggets rank first in the league for points per game at 124.5 and lead in field goals made per game with 44.9 , showcasing an offensive machine that remains difficult to contain despite their recent struggles. However, both teams enter this back-to-back situation fatigued, which could significantly impact their execution on both ends of the floor. The Suns' defensive intensity offers a potential counter to Denver's explosive offense, as Phoenix ranks tied for first in steals per game at 10.6 , creating opportunities for disruptive plays. Denver will be without Aaron Gordon, Julian Strawther, and Christian Braun, while Phoenix has ruled out Ryan Dunn, Jalen Green, Isaiah Livers, and Grayson Allen , leaving both rosters dealing with significant depth concerns. Nikola Jokic leads the league in assists per game at 11.0 , making him the focal point of Denver's offensive engine regardless of who surrounds him. With neither team having complete roster health and both dealing with the grind of consecutive nights, this matchup promises to test resilience and execution when fatigue becomes a real factor.