Despite an impressive 8-1 start to the 2024-25 season, the Phoenix Suns have stumbled to a 9-7 record. The team has lost five straight games and is currently in seventh place in the Western Conference. All-star PF Kevin Durant sustained a calf injury during a game against Dallas on November 8 and has been absent from the last seven games.
In addition, Bradley Beal is also grappling with a calf injury he suffered on November 12 in a game against the Utah Jazz. Beal has missed the Suns’ last five games, all of which ended in losses. However, reports from ESPN’s Shams Charania indicate that both Durant and Beal are expected to make their return on Tuesday night, adding over 45 points of offensive talent back to the team’s lineup. Phoenix will be hosting the Lakers in the Emirates NBA Cup tonight.
Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal set to return from calf injuries on Tuesday
Phoenix is 8-1 with Durant in the lineup this season; 1-6 without. The two-time NBA Finals MVP is back Tuesday. https://t.co/59mVvU7pQf
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 25, 2024
The Suns had a strong start to the season, but their performance has faltered in the absence of Kevin Durant. With Durant missing from the lineup for seven games, the team has only managed to win one game out of six. Durant’s impact is evident from the team’s 8-1 record in the games that he has played, where he averages 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game. Devin Booker is the only other player on the Suns roster averaging over 24 points per game. Durant is expected to make his comeback on Tuesday.
Bradley Beal, who suffered a calf injury in a game against the Jazz on November 12, has also been absent from the Suns’ lineup for the last five games. Beal, averaging 17.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, is a key contributor for the team. The return of both Beal and Durant on Tuesday will provide a significant boost to the starting lineup as they face the Lakers in a nationally televised game on TNT at 10:00 p.m. EST.
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