The Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal combined for 46 points in their much-anticipated return to the court. Durant, 36, Beal, 31, and the Suns hosted the Los Angeles Lakers at the Footprint Center on Tuesday night, but the pleasantries were short-lived. The Suns blew out the Lakers 127-100. Phoenix improved to 10-7, while Los Angeles fell to 10-7. Devin Booker led the Suns with 26 points, two rebounds, and 10 assists.
Despite Booker as the Suns’ top scorer on Tuesday night, Durant and Beal’s much-anticipated returns stole the show in Phoenix. Durant and Beal combined for 46 points in the Suns’ 127-110 blowout win over the Lakers at home. The Suns snapped a five-game losing skid after Beal missed five games and Durant missed seven games, both due to left calf strains. Read on for further details.
Kevin Durant’s Stat Line
Kevin Durant returned to the court for the Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers game. Durant’s stat line consisted of 23 points, six rebounds, and two assists per game while shooting 52.9% from the field and 50.0% from the three-point line. Durant’s stats didn’t accumulate to a triple-double, but they were good, and perhaps great, for a player returning from the sidelines.
The Suns are now 9-1 with Durant on the floor and 1-6 without him this season. Before his most recent injury, Durant was bothered by another left calf strain during the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France, before leading the Team USA men’s basketball team to a gold meal. Team USA defeated Team France 98-87 for their fifth straight gold medal, but Team USA’s win didn’t come easy.
Beal’s Stat Line
Like Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal returned to the court for the Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers game. Beal’s stat line consisted of 23 points, two rebounds, two assists, and one block while shooting 66.7% from the field and 50.0% from the three-point line. Like Durant’s stats, Beal’s stats didn’t lead to a triple-double, they were solid for a player returning from an extended absence.
Beal’s chase-down block on the Lakers’ LeBron James went viral during the Suns vs. Lakers game. Beal proved useful, as he helped the Suns blow out the Lakers in the second half. Beal was previously dealing with a left calf strain sustained on Tuesday, November 12 against the Utah Jazz, but seems to have returned to his regular form and scoring pace.
With the return of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, the Phoenix Suns seem to look like their “normal” selves. The Suns defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 127-100. Durant and Beal were two of the top three scorers in the game. So far this season, Durant averaged 27.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, while Beal averaged 18.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. Durant and Beal should be all right.
Final Thoughts
After the Suns vs. Lakers game, NBA reporters and fans speculated about Durant’s relationship with “Up & Adams” host Kay Adams. Durant made an arguably flirtatious comment to Adams, 38, and said, “Cause I’m seeing you, I’m smiling.” It’s unclear if Durant and Adams are a couple, as both parties have been the subjects of dating rumors. The former has been linked to the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese and real estate broker Cassandra Anderson, while the latter has been linked to the then-New York Giants Quarterback Daniel Jones, now with the Minnesota Vikings pending waivers.
In the meantime, the Suns will host the Brooklyn Nets at the Footprint Center on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Mountain time. After the non-conference game, Phoenix will have three days off and then host the Golden State Warriors in a conference game on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Mountain time. Brooklyn will return home to host the Orlando Magic in a conference game at the Barclays Center on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.
