The Phoenix Suns will host the Los Angeles Lakers in a Western Conference showdown on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Pacific. There are a plethora of highlights, especially Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal’s upcoming returns to the basketball court. Durant, 36, and Beal, 31, completed consecutive days of full practices before the NBA Cup’s Group Stage matchup between the Suns and Lakers.
Durant started the 2024-25 NBA season as an 18-season veteran power forward on an NBA MVP-type pace, averaging 27.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 53.3% from the field and 42.9% from the three-point line to lead the Suns to a red-hot 8-1 start. The Suns went 1-6 without Durant in the lineup. Beal is a veteran shooting guard in his second season with the Suns, averaging 17.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, while shooting 47.5% from the field and 38.3% from the three-point line.
The Durant and Beal returns sparked discussion in the basketball world. There are some expectations for the Suns, who are currently led by Head Coach Mike Budenholzer. Budenholzer, 55, is a Holbrook, Arizona, native and a former Milwaukee Bucks head coach who succeeded Frank Vogel. Vogel, 51, now serves as a coaching consultant for the Dallas Mavericks. Budenholzer’s Bucks defeated the Suns in six games in the 2021 NBA Finals. Milwaukee won its first NBA championship since 1971.
Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal Return
The return of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal could’ve been longer but might’ve felt like forever to the Suns organization and fanbase. The Suns were 8-1 with Durant and Beal’s spectacular play and even made things interesting in a down-to-the-wire 114-113 win over the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas on Friday, November 8. Luka Doncic’s high-arching 38-foot shot fell short, which allowed the Suns to escape the away game with a victory.
On Monday, Beal told the media, “That’s the No. 1 thing with our team: If we can be healthy, then we know who we can be. We’ve got to check that box … Our availability is our best ability. At the end, we can’t keep talking about it. We know what we can do but we’ve got to go out and prove it and continue to play. Kind of start the year how we did. … Pick that back up and get back to where we left off and really take stride.”
Durant and Beal’s Injuries
Kevin Durant has been sidelined with a left calf strain — the same injury he sustained in helping lead Team USA to an Olympic gold medal in Paris, France — since Friday, November 8. Bradley Beal sustained a left calf strain on Tuesday, November 12. Neither injury was considered serious, as neither player had a long-term absence, but both injuries were a huge blow to a red-hot Suns team that stumbled and lost five of their last six games.
On Monday, Beal confirmed his injury recovery to the media members, “I definitely feel a lot better. Definitely good rehab process … Thankful we had the schedule we had so we had some rest days, K [Kevin Durant] and I. I feel great. Excited about [Tuesday].” Beal’s confirmation of his recovery was great news for the Suns organization and fanbase, both of whom have been keeping tabs on him.
Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers Preview
The much-anticipated Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers game will be played at the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix on Tuesday. The Suns will enter the home game with the hopes of snapping a five-game losing skid, as the Suns’ most recent loss was 99-83 to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center in downtown Oklahoma City on Friday, November 15.
The Lakers will enter the away game searching to end a two-game losing streak. The Lakers lost two home games at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles — a 127-102 blowout loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, November 23, and a 119-118 nail-biting loss to the Orlando Magic on Thursday, November 21. The Lakers’ last win was a 124-118 victory over the Utah Jazz at the Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, November 26.
