Bradley Beal avoids serious injury and is ready for the match between the Suns and the Jazz

by Junna Base November 13, 2024

(This story has been updated with additional information).

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal emerged healthier through a frightening moment in Sunday’s overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings that snapped a seven-game winning streak.

Beal is not on Phoenix’s injury report for Tuesday’s game against the Utah Jazz (2-7) to begin a four-game road trip after Kings forward DeMar DeRozan injured himself following a basket with 3:44 left in overtime rolled onto his left knee.

“I woke up a lot better than I expected,” Beal said after the Tuesday morning shooting. “That was a blessing. There’s nothing structurally wrong. Probably just a bad bruise.”

Beal went down in great pain, but got back up and finished the game on the court, scoring a team-high 28 points for Phoenix (8-2).

“I felt like if I could just apply some pressure, it would be good,” Beal said after the game, as he dealt with a sprained right elbow. “At first I couldn’t. Then when I got up, I thought, OK, let me see if I can apply some pressure. And then I was able to do it once. Let’s see if I can jump. If I can do that,” then I can try to leave.

The x-rays after the game were negative.

“We dodged a bullet for sure,” Beal said Tuesday. “For any other sport, you’re done. I’m just glad that we have a good staff that helps me work on my body every day. I put myself in these weird positions wherever I can.” Luckily it’s nothing more than just a bone bruise, maybe a bruise.

Devin Booker is also not on the injury report, although he was battling an illness that left him exhausted throughout Sunday’s game. He scored 23 points but missed a 3 at the end of regulation time.

“It’s something, but it should be gone soon,” Booker said after Sunday’s game.

Suns superstar Kevin Durant is out with a left calf strain that is scheduled to be reevaluated the weekend of Nov. 23-24. Durant suffered the injury during Friday’s win in Dallas.

Durant did not make the trip to Salt Lake City.

Two-way player Collin Gillespie is also out for an extended period of time due to a fractured right ankle as he plays for Phoenix’s G League team, the Valley Suns. He will be examined again in four weeks.

This is Phoenix’s first game in NBA Cup West Group B play.

“I’m looking forward to year two,” Beal said. “I feel like everyone got their feet wet in the first year, but the later the games came, the more you realize that the points and the wins become more and more important. The teams actually start competing and fighting each other. I like how it’s kind of a motivational boost. “We’re in the middle of the season and, you know, we’ve got $500,000 on the line.”

The Suns reached the quarterfinals of the first in-season tournament last year before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers, who won the tournament.

Jusuf Nurkic is listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game after he did not play in the second half of Sunday’s loss due to left ankle soreness.

“He hung in pretty hard in the first half but couldn’t keep going in the second half,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said after the game.

Since the 2.10 meter tall player shot 0 against 4 in 15 minutes of play in the first half, he remained goalless and was also listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.

Do you have any opinions on the current state of the suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

Support local journalism. Start your online subscription.

Police arrest criminal network that forges famous paintings – DW – November 11, 2024

Driver in stolen car causes fatal multi-vehicle collision in Central Valley

Watch Crystal Palace vs Fulham: Premier League free live stream