The Phoenix Suns have a chance to get back to winning ways on Christmas Eve, and there is no better opponent to do this against than the Los Angeles Lakers.
The two teams having a rivalry that is always simmering underneath the surface, but which Dillon Brooks and LeBron James brought to everybody's attention during their last meeting.
The Lakers escaped with the win, while Brooks found himself the hero of the hour for perhaps the first time in his career.
Suns need to unleash Khaman Maluach on Deandre Ayton
Former Suns' first overall pick Deandre Ayton has silenced a lot of critics with how he has played with the Lakers so far this season. He knows his role and for the most part is excelling as the big man they need.
The Lakers could have had Mark Williams, an altogether better center who is having a career year in Phoenix, but it is actually rookie Khaman Maluach who can get the better of Ayton when they next meet.
Maluach has been spending time down in the G League, while head coach Jordan Ott has also handed him a healthy dose of DNPs when he has been with the main roster.
🚨 New Film Session 🚨
— Stephen PridGeon-Garner 🏁 (@StephenPG3) December 22, 2025
Khaman Maluach is 4-for-7 from deep in his last two games on the G-League level.
I've enjoyed his usage & the flow into the scoring opportunities he's seen — *plenty* to build on here, walk with me on a rep.
Watch: https://t.co/SZpBN6BSQD pic.twitter.com/1C9QxSUsus
Yet despite this he is exactly the kind of big that Ayton does not like to match up against. One who is going to make him work on every possession on both ends of the court.
Obviously Williams does the same thing, but he can't play all 48 minutes. Having him check back into the game when Ayton does is the obvious solution, but Maluach is the wildcard the Suns need to turn loose now.
There is also no real scouting plan for him yet either because he is such a raw prospect, which would no doubt annoy a meticulous head coach such as JJ Redick too.
Offensively we know he's not going to give the team a lot, while he would also be picked on by the likes of LeBron and Austin Reaves.
But if ever there was a time to see if Maluach can contribute in any capacity this season, then this is it. Ayton the ideal opponent to show just how close (or far away) the 19-year-old is from getting more minutes.
The Suns are also playing with house money thanks to the unexpectedly competitive campaign they've had, and the next phase of their plan here should be giving the rookies a chance to impress.
There will be no better opponent or individual matchup for Maluach to prove he has been learning from those reps down in the G League by going at Ayton all night.