Bad luck with injuries follows the Suns the smell of a turd on the bottom of a shoe.
Just don’t ask Kevin Durant about it. More on that later.
During last night’s NBA game against the New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns shooting guard Bradley Beal damn near broke his ankle after landing on the foot of New York Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo. With 7:28 left in the first quarter, Beal was fouled while making a three-pointer in the opening quarter (which led to a flagrant foul), but was unable to finish the game.
Beal remained on the court to take the free throw after DiVincenzo was hit with a “Flagrant One” foul, successfully converting, but was visibly frustrated as he exited the court, putting a damper on his return to the Suns lineup. So far, Phoenix’s “Big 3” (Booker, Durant, Beal) have only managed to lace-up twice when all players were available.
Devin Booker, the heart-beat of the Suns, expressed his disappointment, noting Beal’s much-anticipated return and the unfortunate nature of the incident:
“Saw him getting treatment. I’m sure he’s pissed off. Aggravated. Haven’t talked to him, but it’s frustrating. You want to be on the court.”
Along with Beal’s injury, the Suns were absolutely throttled by the Knicks, falling 139-122 to the Knicks. It was like someone doused their flame.
In front of a packed Footprint Center, it was Jalen Brunson who put on the best show, leading all scorers with a personal best 50 points, including a perfect 9-for-9 from beyond the arc (tying LaTrell Spreewell’s record for consecutive 3s made).
Brunson is a dude you can’t help but like; he came in with a chip on his shoulder because of his size (even though he led Villinova to two NCAA National Championships), he is a classic, throw-back point guard who is intelligent & fundamentally sound, and he’s a “team first” player.
Last night’s post-game was no different. Focusing on the team’s success, Brunson remarked on his joy over the win rather than personal achievements. The Knicks’ recent victory was a turnaround from their previous narrow loss to the Suns, where Booker’s last-second three-pointer clinched the game.
Suns coach Frank Vogel confirmed that X-ray results on Beal’s ankle were encouraging. Kevin Durant led the Suns with 29 points, while Booker added 28 points and nine assists. Jusuf Nurkic also contributed significantly with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
The Knicks’ impressive 59.8% field goal shooting, including 17-of-29 from three-point range, overwhelmed the Suns’ defense. Beal’s injury occurred as he inadvertently landed on DiVincenzo’s foot, causing his ankle to twist sharply.
Durant expressed his hope for Beal’s speedy recovery. Beal, who remained in the game to take a free throw after DiVincenzo was fouled, soon left the court in evident frustration and did not return. Booker noted Beal’s probable aggravation and disappointment.
The foul on Beal was later reclassified as a “Flagrant 1” following a video review, which concluded that the defender’s actions were reckless.
Beal’s absence for the rest of the game was confirmed before the first quarter concluded. He ended the night with six points. Drew Eubanks of the Suns commented on the impact of Beal’s injury, emphasizing the need for the team to adapt and address broader issues.
This game marked only Beal’s third appearance after missing 12 games due to a back injury. The Suns have struggled with injuries this season, with 10 players missing games and the team only completing 25 of the 82-game schedule. Only Goodwin and Nurkic have been ever-present for the Suns.
“Slim” aka Durant dismissed suggestions of bad luck with injuries, expressing confidence in the team’s training staff and support system for injured players:
“That’s a part of it. Brad will be back. Great training staff. We got support behind him. He’ll be back out there but you think we got bad luck? I don’t believe in that”
The Suns had their 13th different starting lineup of the season in this game, with Grayson Allen starting for the first time alongside the Suns’ trio of Booker, Durant, and Beal after his return from a groin injury.
Over/Under games played by Suns “Big-3”?
Let me know your answer or what you think of the Beal injury, either in the comment section below or on social media:
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