In just the second game featuring all of the members of Phoenix’s “big three,” Suns guard Bradley Beal sustained a right ankle injury in the first quarter of Friday’s contest against New York, per Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports (all Twitter links here).
Beal appeared to be in a lot of pain after attempting a shot and having Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo step under his foot as he landed, which caused him to roll his right ankle (video link). DiVincenzo received a Flagrant 1 foul on the play.
Beal stayed in the game to shoot free throws and was able to walk off the court without assistance, but he seemed to have a limp and immediately headed back to the locker room. The Suns later ruled him out for the remainder of the contest, Bourguet adds.
It’s a tough setback for Beal, who was making just his sixth appearance of the 2023/24 season after battling a back injury for much of the fall, which caused him to miss 19 games. Phoenix’s other two stars — Kevin Durant and Devin Booker — have also missed time this season due to various injuries (four absences for Durant, nine for Booker).
As Bourguet tweets, the sample size is extremely small, but the Suns are plus-15 in the 23.8 minutes the trio have shared the court together thus far.
Hopefully the injury turns out to be minor, though it certainly looked like a bad sprain. Despite dealing with several injuries, the Suns have held their own to this point and had a 13-11 record entering Friday’s game.
Here are a few more injury notes on the Suns:
- Sharpshooter Grayson Allen was questionable heading into the game but he returned from a three-game absence on Friday after dealing with a right groin strain, as Bourguet relays (via Twitter). Allen, who was acquired via trade in the offseason, is averaging career highs in several statistics, including points (12.3), rebounds (4.5), assists (2.9) and three-point percentage (46.8) through 19 games, all starts.
- Josh Okogie missed his second straight game on Friday with a right hip injury, but it’s not a long-term concern, head coach Frank Vogel told reporters, including Bourguet (Twitter link). The 25-year-old is in his second season with the Suns after re-signing on a two-year deal in free agency over the summer.
- Forward Nassir Little, who was acquired in the same blockbuster trade as Allen, recently returned from an orbital fracture, which requires him to wear a face mask on the court. He thinks the play he was injured on (video link) was a “dirty” one by Kings center JaVale McGee, per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic (Twitter link). “I feel like it was a dirty play, I watched it over and over,” Little said. “He had hooked my arm … I could have broke my arm.”
Shocked!
So Beal is the new Kawhi Leonard? lol
Awful comparison. Beal has never done anything lol. Kawhi has a resume and is balling out right now.
But he’s a band aid, don’t act like you didn’t know that’s what bud meant.
This is so unlike Beal.
Elaborate
Sarcasm?
So injury prone.
Awful trade for Phoenix for the 1st half of this season.
Not as bad as Golden State trading for Paul
Beal still has 160 million left on his contract. It’s much worse than the trade for Paul.
Both trades are giant failures but Paul is better than Poole. On the other hand as goofy as Poole is, he still at least plays and has a good game once in a while for Washington while Beal does nothing for Phoenix.
Wow I said he wouldn’t last 3 games in the latest he returns post…what do you know he didn’t.
All that money made his inflammation kick in. Even in his head
What a colossal mistake bringing Beal to Phoenix was!!!
Brad Beal contract situation.
23-24 = $46 million
24-25 = $50 million
25-26 = $53 million
26-27 = $57 million
Why is it, every single Trade they declare as a “Blockbuster Trade” ?!?!
As bad as the Wiz are, imagine being saddled with Wall and then Beal on supermaxes.
WSH dealing Beal for nothing other than getting off his contract and a bunch of SRPs now looks like a massive haul. CHI should make note of this.
nassir, “could of broken my arm.” said with a broken face.