The Phoenix Suns will remain without key players on the second night of a back-to-back tonight against the Orlando Magic.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Phoenix (9-5) listed Bradley Beal (left calf strain), Kevin Durant (left calf strain), Jusuf Nurkić (left ankle sprain) and Collin Gillespie (right ankle fracture) as out versus Orlando.
#Suns injury report for tonight’s game vs. #Magic
Bradley Beal (left calf strain) OUT
Kevin Durant (left calf strain) OUT
Jusuf Nurkić (left ankle sprain) OUT
Collin Gillespie (right ankle fracture) OUT— Burn City Suns ☀️ (@BurnCitySuns) November 18, 2024
Durant, Beal and Gillespie had all already been ruled out before today. Durant is scheduled to be re-evaluated on Saturday, while coach Mike Budenholzer said Beal would be out tonight before yesterday’s 120-117 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tonight will mark the four-straight game Beal misses and sixth-straight game Durant is out. Phoenix has lost three straight with both stars out of the lineup.
Nurkić has been in and out of the lineup with his ankle injury the past eight days, but has played in the last three games. The big man has really struggled in the four games he has played with the ankle injury, shooting 3-for-23 (13.0%) overall, 1-for-12 (8.3%) from 3 and 5-for-10 (50.0%) from the free-throw line in those conttests. His absence will open more opportunities for Mason Plumlee and rookie Oso Ighodaro, who had a career-high 11 points against Minnesota.
The Magic (8-6) have played their last nine games without Paolo Banchero, who remains out with a torn right oblique, going 5-4 in those contests, but entering tonight on a five-game win streak in which they have an average margin of victory of 19 points. Orlando is only 1-6 on the road this season, however, and 7-0 at home.
Wendell Carter Jr. (Plantar fasciitis in left foot) is also out for Orlando.
Tonight’s game tips off shortly after 7:00 p.m. MST.
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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
