Suns set return target for Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal
Jul 28, 2024; Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France; United States guard Kevin Durant (7) after a game against Serbia during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
The Phoenix Suns have lost five in a row and are playing without two of their three stars, but help appears to be on the way.
Suns coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters Friday that Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal both got light practices in Friday and were limited participants in 3-on-3 work. Barring any setbacks, the Suns hope to have both players back for next Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Mike Budenholzer said Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal were full participants in today's lighter practice and got in some 3-on-3
"The hope, the plan is they’ll play some 5-on-5 on Sunday, and continue to make that progression and hopefully be available for Tues. against the Lakers" pic.twitter.com/Whsi8zoTfY
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) November 22, 2024
Beal is dealing with a calf injury, and has not played since Nov. 12. Durant, meanwhile, has been out since Nov. 8 with a calf strain of his own. He was ruled out for about two weeks at that point, so he is essentially right on that timeline.
The Suns were 8-1 with Durant and Beal in the lineup alongside Devin Booker, but they are just 1-6 since Durant got hurt. Several of their games have not even been all that close, including a 23-point loss to Sacramento and a pair of 16-point defeats to Oklahoma City and New York. With games against the Lakers and Golden State Warriors on the horizon, they will want to get going with a fully healthy lineup as soon as possible.
