PHOENIX — Phoenix Suns coach Mike Budenholzer gave more updates on Bradley Beal’s progression and recovery from a left hamstring strain that will keep him out of his seventh consecutive game ahead of their matchup against the Houston Rockets on Sunday.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!“Yeah, he’s making good progress,” Budenholzer said pregame. “He’s played some 5-on-5, which is a big step. Just need to continue to do that, continue to see how he responds to that and see how that goes.”
The Suns have gone 4-2 in the six games that Beal has missed, including two huge wins against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks and two blowout losses to the Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves. Beal’s absence comes at a crucial time in Phoenix’s season. It is one game behind the Sacramento Kings for the 10th seed and final spot in the Western Conference play-in.
With the toughest remaining schedule in the NBA, Phoenix can’t afford to miss a step. And yet, the Suns have looked like a much better basketball team with their three-time All-Star guard out of the lineup. Beal’s absence has made way for rookie wing Ryan Dunn to make his way back into the rotation and two-way guard Collin Gillespie and gritty, defensive wing Cody Martin to play impactful rotation minutes.
Gillespie started each of Phoenix’s six games without Beal in the lineup, posting averages of 8.8 points and 4.3 assists per game, including a career-high 22 points and 10 assists in their 124-109 loss to the Timberwolves on Friday.
Beal’s absence — and the surge of Dunn-Gillespie-Martin minutes — changed Phoenix’s defensive identity. They are more versatile and switchable on the perimeter with rookie center Oso Ighodaro finding his way into the main rotation as well. Dunn and Martin give the Suns energy and an edge that they hadn’t had up until this point in the season.
They are going to need all they can get. Perhaps Beal getting back would give them the boost they need offensively with Devin Booker struggling the way he has recently. But Beal cannot mimic the defensive intensity they have when he’s gone. Phoenix may be better off without him as the season closes and their play-in chances narrow.
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Reporter Connor Moreno covers the Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @cmorenoNBA, and on Bluesky, @cloading.bsky.social
