The Phoenix Suns are reaching rock bottom and are searching for answers as to how they can break out of their slump, but the team is nearing full strength for the first time in weeks.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Just before Saturday’s 126-108 loss to the Indiana Pacers, Tyus Jones and Oso Ighodaro were both dealing with an illness and sat out. A couple of days later, however, both are not on the injury report for tonight’s game vs. the Philadelphia 76ers.
In his first season as a Sun, Jones has only missed one game this season and has been impactful despite his numbers not being the flashiest. With his underrated scoring ability tagged along with a knack for being a playmaker, the Duke product is averaging a career-high 12.6 points, 6.3 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 32 games.
Ighodaro, a Chandler native, has shown signs that he can make the most of his minutes when called upon and has been reliable when the lineup is weakened by injuries. With him, Jusuf Nurkić and Mason Plumlee battling for minutes at center, the 22-year-old Ighodaro is averaging 3.8 points and 3.7 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game across 26 games (two starts).
The only player who remains out for Phoenix is Royce O’Neale, who is set to be reevaluated this week after suffering a left ankle sprain. He will be inactive for his third straight game.
This matchup against the 76ers is a pivotal one as the Suns are currently 15-18 and outside of a play-in spot.
With reports that there is tension in the locker room between players, the starting lineup tonight will consist of two significant changes to it. Trying to figure out a solution, both Nurkić and Bradley Beal were demoted from being starters to rotation players while Plumlee and Ryan Dunn are going to start in Philadelphia.
It will be interesting to see how Beal will respond given that he has been a starter for the majority of his career. Throughout his 13-year NBA career, Beal has started 737 of 771 games he has played in and this will be the first that he will come off the bench for the Suns.
Debuting their new-looking lineup, the Suns will take on the 76ers tonight at 5 p.m. MST inside Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia.
Breaking: Phoenix Suns moving Beal, Nurkic out of starting lineup
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, ASU Athletics and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
