The Phoenix Suns face a rare five-day break as their next game is not until next Tuesday when they face the LA Lakers in the NBA Cup. It has been a familiar story for the Suns, as injuries have derailed their early season form. After beginning the season 8-1, they have since fallen to 9-7, much in part due to the absences of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. Following their 138-122 defeat to the New York Knicks on Wednesday night, they have lost five games in a row and dropped to seventh in the Western Conference. This next week presents a much-needed opportunity for the side to rest and recover, and welcome back some big faces ahead of another tough stretch of fixtures.
The Suns Get a Much-Needed Break After 5-Game Slump
Get Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal Healthy
The priority during this extended break is for the Suns to get healthy. The Suns’ slump has coincided with the injuries to both Durant and Beal. They are dealing with similar left calf strains. Durant appeared to have suffered the injury against the Dallas Mavericks 12 days ago, in which he led the Suns to their eighth win. The team has won just one game since and has sorely missed the 36-year-old, who had been playing at an MVP level. Not only have they been without their most reliable scorer, but also arguably their best defender.
Beal has missed the last five games, and the Suns are winless in this stretch. The pair are nearing returns, though, as ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that they are hoping to come back sometime next week, perhaps as soon as their next game with the Lakers.
Phoenix owner Mat Ishbia appears on NBA Today to discuss his heavy investment into the Suns — plus joining @malika_andrews with an update on Kevin Durant (calf): pic.twitter.com/hiP0RKP0Xo
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 20, 2024
This will provide a huge boost for head coach Mike Budenholzer, who has had to navigate rotations without the duo, a task which has proved difficult with players struggling for consistency, particularly on the offensive end. In the last five, the Suns have lost by an average margin of 13.6 points per game. They have allowed an average of 118.6 points in this span, which ranks 26th in the league. Offensively they have averaged just 105 points, ranking 27th, highlighting the reliance on the duo on both ends.
Rest Devin Booker
In the absence of Durant and Beal, the offensive load has fallen on the shoulders of Devin Booker. It has been a difficult season for the 28-year-old so far, as he has yet to reach the heights expected of him from previous years. Through 16 games he is averaging 24.1 points and has seen a significant drop in efficiency compared to last year. Having the majority of defensive attention placed on him is a rational explanation for his early-season problems, though he was still not himself when the team was whole. He posted a season-low 12 points against the OKC Thunder last week but has since produced 44-point and 33-point outings against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Knicks. This is a very welcome sign that Booker could be getting back on track after dealing with an illness.
Regardless, Booker desperately needs some rest, and he will get some over the next few days. He has averaged 38.6 minutes per game in the last three games. Booker and the team will be hoping for some reinforcements in the form of Durant and Beal next time they step foot on the court, but for now, this is the ideal moment for the guard to rejuvenate himself before the next game.
