Two of the NBA's best teams will meet on Wednesday when the Celtics visit the Suns.
At 20-5, Boston enters Wednesday's game with a strong hold on the league's best record while Phoenix (16-8) currently owns the best record in the West. Strong MVP candidates take center stage as Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Suns guard Devin Booker have elevated the play of their respective teams this season.
Through 24 games, Tatum is averaging career-bests of 30.8 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 48.0 percent from the field, another career-high mark. Booker, who has also appeared in 24 games, leads the Suns with a career-best 28.4 points to go along with 5.9 assists and 4.9 rebounds.
Making the feats of Booker and Tatum all the more impressive is the fact that both Phoenix and Boston have been without key contributors this season. The Suns are still without starters Cameron Johnson and Chris Paul, who both suffered injuries early in the season, while the Celtics have played the entire season without Robert Williams III logging a single minute.
INJURY UPDATES: Chris Paul | Robert Williams III
As good as the MVP candidates have been, each team is a sum of all its parts. On Wednesday, keep an eye out on a few difference-makers, including Boston's trio of Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Derrick White and Phoenix's trio of Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges and Cameron Payne, who has stepped up in Paul's absence.
Could this be an NBA Finals preview? The Sporting News has you covered with all you need to know to tune into the early-season showdown.
NBA LEAGUE PASS: Sign up to watch every out-of-market game
What channel is Celtics vs. Suns on?
- Date: Wednesday, Dec. 7
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: ESPN.com | ESPN app | Sling TV
Wednesday's game between the Celtics and Suns will air nationally on ESPN.
Fans with a cable subscription can stream Celtics vs. Suns on ESPN.com or the ESPN app. If you've cut the cord, you can stream Celtics vs. Suns with a subscription to Sling TV.
Fans in the U.S. can watch the biggest games of the 2022-23 NBA season on Sling TV. Stream Sling Orange for $40/month to catch all regular season games on TNT, ESPN & ABC. For games on NBA TV, subscribe to Sling Orange & Sports Extra for $51/month. Local regional blackout restrictions apply.
SIGN UP FOR SLING: English | Spanish
Celtics vs. Suns start time
- Date: Wednesday, Dec. 7
- Time: 10 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. PT
Celtics vs. Suns from the Footprint Center is scheduled to tip off around 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 7, which is 8 p.m. local time in Phoenix.
Celtics schedule 2022-23
Here are Boston's next five games:
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Dec. 7 | at Suns | 10 p.m. | ESPN |
| Dec. 10 | at Warriors | 8:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Dec. 12 | at Clippers | 10:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Dec. 13 | at Lakers | 10 p.m. | TNT |
| Dec. 16 | vs. Magic | 7:30 p.m. | — |
Suns schedule 2022-23
Here are Phoenix's next five games:
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Dec. 7 | vs. Celtics | 10 p.m. | ESPN |
| Dec. 9 | at Pelicans | 8:30 p.m. | — |
| Dec. 11 | at Pelicans | 3:30 p.m. | — |
| Dec. 13 | at Rockets | 8 p.m. | — |
| Dec. 15 | at Clippers | 10:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
