The Phoenix Suns are stumbling along without Kevin Durant, with the recent loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder a missed opportunity. If fully healthy this would have been a great barometer to see if they're for real this season.
Instead head coach Mike Budenholzer was forced to use rookie Iso Ighodaro to try and combat the size and athleticism of the Thunder. It wasn't enough. They've dropped to 9-4, although they will soon return home for a six-game homestand that should hopefully lead to more wins.
Bradley Beal is going to miss at least the first game back in Phoenix.
Coach Budenholzer was speaking to the media ahead of the final game of their four game road trip - another crack at a Minnesota Timberwolves team that have struggled this season - and revealed that Beal won't feature in that matchup. Not only that, but he's also going to sit versus the Orlando Magic back at the Footprint Center, as a result of the calf strain that continues to give him problems.
Grayson Allen (hamstring) and Jusuf Nurkic (ankle) are expected to play today vs. Minnesota Timberwolves.
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 17, 2024
Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said Bradley Beal (calf) won't play Monday vs. Orlando in 2nd of back-to-back.
Out today as well. Will be evaluated when Suns return home. #Suns pic.twitter.com/3s4xyLWJJ9
The Suns aren't exactly worrying about Beal as a long-term injury concern, but it is worth noting that Durant is also out with the same issue currently. That's not the problem though - because although the Suns look fantastic when fully healthy - they are quickly getting reeled in by the teams below them in the Western Conference.
Even worse, a small section of Suns' fans have become more vocal about the lack of assertiveness from superstar Devin Booker while his star teammates have been unavailable. Despite playing a team-high 39 minutes versus the Thunder, Booker finished with 12 points. Less even than Josh Okogie's 15, and it was not long ago he was receiving DNPs.
Beal has been playing his best basketball since coming to Phoenix - particularly on the defensive end - and although he's likely always going to miss time for the remainder of his career as a result of knocks and strains - we've now reached the point where this version of Beal is crucial to success in The Valley.
Bradley Beal is playing the best defense of his life, and the numbers prove it.
— Basketball Poetry (@bballispoetry) November 8, 2024
Wrote about Beal's metamorphosis, rechargeable batteries, coach Bud's impact, and how the Suns' defense has overperformed even against a weak slate of initial foes:https://t.co/zXPiEyysrR#SunsUp
That wasn't the case last season - Beal struggled to find his role offensively and was forced into some point guard duties - but early in the campaign he's shooting 38.3 percent from deep while scoring 17.8 points completely within the flow of the offense. There's a reason our one-sentence update on Beal to this point was glowing.
The ideal time to get Beal back would be during the six-game run in the Footprint Center that will take us into December, only there are no easy games to do this. The Magic, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets (a tough out), Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs all coming into town.
As it stands this road trip has disappointed because of tough losses to the Thunder and Sacramento Kings - who have now beaten them twice this season - with that easy victory over the Utah Jazz to begin the trip feeling like a long time ago now. The sooner Beal gets back the better, but this latest update is not a good one for the Suns.