It’s been a rough stretch with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal sidelined, but things are looking up as they’re set to return tomorrow.
The wait seems to finally be over. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Phoenix Suns are set to regain the services of both Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. The duo has been sorely missed, with Beal sitting out the past six games and Durant sidelined for seven, as both battled calf injuries.
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
“I feel great. Excited about tomorrow and to get back going,” Beal said after practice on Monday.
Their return couldn’t come at a more crucial time for a Suns team desperate to steady the ship and regain their early-season momentum. The team opened the season 8-1, riding a seven-game winning streak that launched them to the second seed in the Western Conference. Then injuries hit, derailing their rhythm.
Kevin Durant went down with a calf injury, the same issue that sidelined him during the 2024 Paris Olympic warmup games, where he didn’t take the court until the competition officially began in July. With Durant’s history, including a catastrophic Achilles injury, the Suns have every reason to exercise extreme caution when it comes to his recovery.
Just one game later, it was Bradley Beal’s turn to go down, straining his calf and sidelining him for the next six games.
Without Durant and Beal, the Suns stumbled to a 1-6 record, struggling mightily on both ends of the floor. Offensively, they lacked direction, while defensively, they failed to impose any sort of resistance. The players tasked with stepping up in their absence fell short, unable to shoulder the burden left by the two stars. As a result, the team’s early-season success evaporated, plummeting them from the second seed in the Western Conference to eighth, where they currently find themselves clawing to stay afloat.
Phoenix Suns Western Conference seeding since November 9th: pic.twitter.com/uatePUwx7D
— John Voita (@DarthVoita) November 25, 2024
Both Durant and Beal appear ready to make their return on Tuesday night, just in time for an NBA Cup matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Suns and Lakers have split their season series 1-1 so far, and this game presents an opportunity for Phoenix to reset after an unusual six-day break. That pause followed a grueling stretch of seven games in 10 nights, leaving the Suns in desperate need of rest. And now, reinforcements.
With Durant and Beal back in the lineup, the team has a prime chance to rediscover their rhythm and steer themselves back toward their winning ways.