The Phoenix Suns had high hopes and expectations heading into the 2023-24 NBA season. They had the league’s newest “big three,” having added Bradley Beal to the mix with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker this past offseason, giving them one of the most talented starting lineups in basketball. But things have not gone as the team expected, as they have an even record of 15-15 in the first 30 games and are almost out of the playoff picture.
Beal returns for tonight’s game between the Suns and Hornets
INJURY UPDATE: Bradley Beal is available for tonight’s game. pic.twitter.com/A1x3HQ86nT
– Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 29, 2023
Part of the blame can be attributed to Beal’s lack of availability this season. In those first 30 games, the team’s new acquisition has participated in only 6 of them due to various injuries, and only in three of them alongside Durant and Booker. The three of them have had too little real-time game action together to solidify and learn how to play together, and we’re just 11 games away from reaching the halfway point of the regular season.
Fortunately for the Suns, Beal is healthy enough to return to the court. On Friday, the team announced that Beal would be available for tonight’s game against the Hornets, which will be his seventh game of the year so far.
Phoenix has to get out of a hole
Kevin Durant was DOING EVERYTHING for the Suns tonight 🔥
27 PTS16 AST (career-high t) 10 REB
9 of 16 field goals pic.twitter.com/9rOlyiUxcx
– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 28, 2023
He will have to help get Phoenix out of the hole they themselves have created. After starting the season with an 11-6 record, the Suns have now lost 9 of their last 13 games since Thanksgiving weekend, have an even .500 record, and are clinging on for dear life to 10th. and last place in the playoffs. Western Conference. Luckily for them, the Warriors have lost their last two games to prevent them from gaining ground from 11th place.
A good position at home could help with Beal’s return. Each of Phoenix’s next six games will take place at home, as they don’t go on the road until January 8. In fact, they won’t leave the west coast until January 19.
The Suns enter the day a half-game ahead of the Warriors and are a half-game behind the Rockets for ninth place. Tonight they are 16.5-point favorites against Charlotte, which is on a nine-game losing streak.
