As a long five-day break is winding down, the Phoenix Suns used it as extra time for the players to return to full health before Thanksgiving and that is exactly what it is projected to look like.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Before the first NBA Cup game at Footprint Center this season gets underway Tuesday, Shams Charania of ESPN reported on X/Twitter that Bradley Beal (left calf strain) and Kevin Durant (left calf strain) are both trending towards playing against the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Suns’ Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal plan to return to the lineup against the Los Angeles Lakers in Tuesday’s NBA Cup game in Phoenix, sources tell ESPN,” Charania said.
Suns’ Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal plan to return to the lineup against the Los Angeles Lakers in Tuesday’s NBA Cup game in Phoenix, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/wH2GUhJTvo
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 25, 2024
If true, this would provide a huge boost for the Suns who started the season 8-1 before Durant was injured. Durant was ruled out indefinitely on Nov. 9 and missed the past seven games while Beal has sat out the last five.
Before being sidelined, Durant was off to an MVP-like start averaging 27.6 points, 6.6 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game for the Suns. Beal averaged 17.8 points, 4.0 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game, having also missed another two games earlier in the season with a right elbow injury.
The Suns have made multiple alterations to the starting lineup from Royce O’Neale and Ryan Dunn playing at forward to having two centers on the floor at one time between Mason Plumlee, Jusuf Nurkić and Oso Ighodaro. Despite trying to adjust as much as possible without Beal and Durant, the Suns are on a five-game losing streak while both have been unavailable.
Phoenix is 1-1 and the No. 4 seed in the West Group B of the NBA Cup. The Suns beat the Utah Jazz 120-112 on Nov. 12 before falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder 99-83 on Nov. 15.
The Suns and Lakers clash on Tuesday at 8 p.m. MST inside Footprint Center.
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers the Phoenix Mercury, Suns and ASU Athletics for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
