The Phoenix Suns are currently on a seven-game win streak, but received a crushing blow yesterday when it was announced that superstar forward Kevin Durant would be out with a left calf strain and re-evaluated in two weeks.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Tonight, Phoenix (8-1) will face its first test of the season without Durant, who had been playing at an MVP-caliber level, against the Sacramento Kings (5-4). Without Durant last season, the Suns went 5-2.
The Suns also listed Jusuf Nurkić (left ankle soreness) as questionable, and Ryan Dunn (left ankle sprain) as probable after the rookie missed Phoenix’s 114-113 victory over the Dallas Mavericks Friday with the injury.
What will be the biggest keys for the Suns without Durant tonight against the Kings and for the foreseeable future?
Get Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in a rhythm
Due to a combination of playing new, team-first roles, a different rotation, shooting struggles and other factors, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal have not gotten off to starts to the season that reflect their usual numbers.
With Durant out, both players will have a big opportunity to find a rhythm.
Booker is currently averaging 23.1 points on 42.9% shooting (32.4% from 3), 6.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds in 36.6 minutes per game. Booker has gone 5-for-31 from 3 in his four last games and tied a season-low with 13 points on 5-of-13 shooting (1-for-8 from 3), but also had 12 assists to 0 turnovers against Dallas Friday.
“I know I’m going to get (it going),” Booker told The Arizona Republic‘s Duane Rankin after the win.
"I know I'm going to get (it going)."
Devin Booker after 5-of-13 (1-of-8 3s) for 13 pts in Suns 114-113 win vs Mavs.
"Trying to find a rhythm and set guys up. It'll come. I like winning but I don't like the close games necessarily."
Game-high 12 assists to 0 turnovers. #Suns pic.twitter.com/kgKxS0hNHf
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 9, 2024
Beal has missed two games this year due to injury and is averaging 15.4 points on 46.1% shooting (37.2% from 3), 3.9 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 35.0 minutes per game. He has played excellent defensively so far, but will now have a chance to showcase his offensive talent, especially since he will likely now not have to guard the opposing team’s best player to start off games.
Royce O’Neale, Ryan Dunn continuing to step up
Royce O’Neale has been Phoenix’s unsung MVP this season coming off the bench, as he leads the Suns with a plus-74 plus/minus and is averaging 10.4 points while shooting a ridiculous 52.6% from 3 and 6.4 rebounds in 25.6 minutes per game.
Dunn has been one of the biggest surprises after being drafted No. 28 overall by Phoenix this summer. The rookie placed fourth on NBA.com’s first official rookie ladder released last Wednesday and is averaging 6.8 points on 45.5% shooting in 15.9 minutes per game so far this season.
It has not been announced who will be starting between Dunn and O’Neale, but coach Mike Budenholzer has said he likes O’Neale with the bench unit. Dunn has averaged 14.5 points while shooting 55% from the floor and 46.6% from 3 in his two starts this season, both filling in for Beal.
We will also see who is added to the rotation without Durant. Last game without Dunn, Josh Okogie filled in for some of his minutes. Fan-favorite Bol Bol has not played a single minute in the regular season, while rookie center Oso Ighodaro is another option to play in two-big lineups.
Finding ways to win in the clutch
Durant has been the single biggest reason why the Suns are an ultra-impressive 7-0 in clutch games (games within five points in the last five minutes) this season. Durant leads the NBA in clutch scoring with 35 points total so far in these situations.
Phoenix has not found a way to pull ahead early in games, but has shown a lot of grit at the end of games to take every single close matchup.
The Suns have played great defense in the final stretches of game this season, but Durant has shouldered the load offensively for the most part. Phoenix has the luxury of still having Booker and Beal to help them down the stretch and will have to just continue to find ways to win with these two or good team offense if it continues to find itself in close matchups.
Local Game Information
Start Time: 6:00 p.m. MST
Location: Footprint Center
TV Channel: AZ Family/3TV, NBATV
Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, La Mejor 106.5 FM
Stream: Suns Live (click for more info)
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 10, 2024
Betting Odds (DraftKings)
Line: SAC -1
O/U:Â 227
Injury Report
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
