Injury Update: Bradley Beal probable for battle against the Warriors

It looked as if Beal would miss more time after tweaking his ankle on Wednesday.

With 6:48 remaining against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night, Bradley Beal stood alone. In an arena packed with hopeful fans, cheering for a Phoenix Suns comeback from a 17-point deficit, Beal stood alone.

The moment unfolded when Royce O’Neale launched a three-pointer. Beal, crashing in from the weak side to contest for an offensive rebound, landed awkwardly on Keon Johnson’s foot. His ankle twisted sharply, and he collapsed to the floor, writhing in pain.

He stood up and the look on his face was one of despair. Of frustration. Of “Oh, no, here we go again”. He slowly and gingerly made his way to the Suns’ bench, where we stood for several moments trying to absorb the moment he just experienced.

It’s been a challenging journey for Bradley Beal since joining the Suns. Last season was plagued by a series of injuries, from lower back problems to ankle sprains, preventing him from ever finding a consistent rhythm. He appeared in just 53 of the team’s 82 games (64.6%), with his longest streak of consecutive games being 22 to close out the season.

Unfortunately, the 2024-25 campaign has followed a similar pattern. Through the Suns’ first 18 games, Beal has managed to play in only 11 (61.1%), missing time due to a calf strain and a shoulder issue.

So as Bradley Beal stood there, he was surely reflecting on the fact that he was playing in just his second game back after sitting for the previous five. And you could hear the solemnness in his voice when he was asked about it after the game.

“I tweaked my ankle at the end of the game,” Beal told Phoenix media. “Calf was getting a little tight. Kind of expected that on a back-to-back, but I was just being a little smart about it at the end. Once I tweaked my ankle, I was like, ‘Aight, just calm it down’.”

Beal has been a crucial contributor this season, excelling in the tertiary role with energy and efficiency. He’s averaging 18.2 points per game while shooting an impressive 50.3% from the field and 39.7% from beyond the arc.

Judging by his body language on the court and his post-game remarks, it seemed inevitable that Beal would once again be sidelined, recovering from yet another injury. It felt like only a matter of time before the official confirmation came.

However, in a surprising update, Coach Mike Budenholzer told the media today that Beal is listed as probable for the Suns’ matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.

“We’ll see how Brad does the next day or so,” Coach Bud said. “Brad’s going to be probable.”

“He wants to play,” he added. “He wants to be there for his teammates. He wants to compete. We’re hopeful that his body has responded pretty well. I think his frustration is less and in a good place. Certainly, he wants to be healthy, deserves to be healthy and we need him to be healthy.”

A healthy Beal is undoubtedly a key asset, both for himself and the team. The Suns have thrived with him on the court, boasting an 8-3 record in games he’s played, compared to a 2-5 record in his absence.

Phoenix will host the Golden State Warriors at the Footprint Center tomorrow night as the Pacific Division rivals face off. The Warriors, sitting at 12-6 on the season, share a recent misstep with the Suns: both teams suffered losses to the Nets this past week.