Suns cannot catch a break amid latest Bradley Beal injury update
Nov 8, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) controls the ball against the Chicago Bulls at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
The Phoenix Suns acquired Bradley Beal in the offseason to add a third star next to Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. But the newly-formed trio can’t seem to stay on the court together.
Beal suffered another injury setback during the Suns’ Friday contest against the New York Knicks at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Ariz. Beal landed awkwardly on his right ankle as Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo closed out on him while taking a three-pointer.
Bradley Beal twisted his ankle on this play…Hope he’s ok. 🙏
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) December 16, 2023
Beal is expected to “miss a few weeks” despite “no major ankle damage” after the scary scene.
Phoenix Suns star Bradley Beal is likely to miss a few weeks with his right ankle injury, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Good news for Beal is testing showed no major ankle damage, but it's another setback for Beal after the scary landing on a Knicks closeout Friday night. pic.twitter.com/a7Z8MA71Ue
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 17, 2023
Beal had just returned from a lingering back injury to play on Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors, which Durant sat out due to his own injury. The 3-time All-Star had missed the previous 12 games due to his back issue.
The Suns’ triumvirate of stars could only muster 2 games played together before yet another injury setback. They’ve played just 24 minutes together in total this season.
The Suns Big 3 (Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal) have only played a total of 24 minutes together this season. pic.twitter.com/wEQQBbU5mC
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 16, 2023
Beal has missed 19 of Phoenix’s 25 games so far. Booker missed 8 of his team’s first 10 games due to different nagging leg injuries.
Durant, who’s had his own injury troubles throughout his career, has remained the healthiest of the three. He’s missed just 4 games all season.
There was a lot of excitement among Suns fans — and from Beal himself — about how lethal the team’s new threesome would be on offense.
Beal would likely have to face the opposing team’s third-best wing defender on any given night when all three are in the lineup. But having all three Suns stars healthy at the same time seems rarer than a solar eclipse at this point.