Phoenix Suns star guard Bradley Beal close to returning from a left hamstring injury that sidelined him for the last five games is good news for three main reasons.
First, he reached the final stages before returning. Beal played in a “low minute” pickup game with his Suns teammates before Friday’s practice at the team’s practice facility.
“That’s it, you have to test it,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said after Friday’s practice. “You need to test as much game speed as possible. These pick-up games aren’t exactly NBA intensity, but they’re the closest you can get. Being able to get through it without pain is a real positive sign.
Second, Beal gives Phoenix a third scoring option capable of 30 points every night and helps relieve Devin Booker and Kevin Durant of having to push the offense up to score and facilitate.
Booker and Durant account for 40.4% of the team’s scoring and 40.25% of the team’s assists. Beal will be subject to a one-minute restriction if he plays Saturday and still wears a mask even after undergoing surgery on his broken nose during the NBA All-Star break.
Third, Phoenix (35-24) has the toughest remaining schedule in the NBA and could use a healthy roster to combat that.
Fifth in the West, the Suns twice face the top four teams in the Western Conference – Minnesota, Oklahoma City, the reigning NBA champions Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers – and the two best teams in the Eastern Conference – Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Boston has the best record in the NBA at 46-12, winning its last nine games.
“I think that’s the way it should be,” Suns All-Star Devin Booker said after Thursday’s 110-105 victory over the Rockets at Footprint Center.
“You want to play these games at the end of the season, teams that you could see who are already gaining strength. Get a taste of what the playoffs are going to be like. I can not wait to be there. Try to win every match possible. Obviously, stay out of the play-in and maybe move up a few spots and get home court advantage.
Phoenix faces Houston (25-34) for the third time in four games Saturday in Amar’e Stoudemire’s Ring of Honor ceremony at the Footprint Center. Eric Gordon (left groin soreness) is listed as questionable while Nassir Little (knee inflammation) is questionable.
“I’m making progress, I hope I get it,” Vogel said of Gordon, who missed Phoenix’s last two games.
After their fourth and final game Saturday against Houston, the Suns begin this stretch by facing the NBA’s best on Sunday against Oklahoma City in the second straight home game.
- Thunder – Sunday at home, March 29 at OKC (Suns 0-1 season series).
- Nuggets – Tuesday at Denver, March 27 at Denver (Suns 0-1 season series).
- Celtics – March 9 at home, March 14 at Boston (did not play this season).
- Cavs – March 11 at Cleveland, April 3 at home (did not play this season).
- T-Wolves – April 5 at home, April 14 at Minneapolis (Suns 1-0 season series).
- Clippers – April 9 at home, April 10 at Los Angeles (Suns 0-2 season series).
Fifth in the West, the Suns have a chance to move up the standings by facing the T-Wolves (42-17), Thunder (41-18), Nuggets (41-19) and Clippers (37-20) several times. times down the line. Phoenix trails West leader Minnesota by seven games, six behind OKC, 5 ½ behind Denver and three behind Los Angeles heading into Friday’s games.
“We are aware of the teams that are bunching up behind us, but we are aiming for the top four,” Vogel said. “We want to progress. We want to be a team that gets their pitch in the first round and gets the best seed possible. We have a team that we believe can beat anyone. The schedule is tough, but every night I like our chances, especially if we’re at full strength.
Beal missed 29 games this season due to multiple injuries during his first year in Phoenix. He is averaging 18.2 points as the Suns go 19-11 when he has played this season.
Phoenix will play third-ranked Milwaukee in the East on March 17 as part of a four-game road trip. The Suns beat the Bucks at home, 114-106, last month.
They also play the Pelicans twice (April 1 at New Orleans, April 7 at home) and play the Kings on April 12 in Sacramento as part of a three-game road trip to close out the regular season.
New Orleans is sixth in the West and just a half-game behind Phoenix while Sacramento is eighth in the West and trails the Suns by 1 1/2 games. The Suns are 1-0 against the Pelicans and 2-2 against the Kings.
Phoenix plays Sacramento five times this season due to face off in the in-season tournament after losing in the quarterfinals. The Suns won that Dec. 9 game to give them three home games against the Kings this season.
“Just stay locked in,” Suns big Bol Bol said as the remaining schedule approaches. “It’s a tough schedule, but I think the best way to approach it is to take it game by game and not look too far ahead.”
The Suns have won their last nine home games, but they only have 10 more left at the Footprint Center. Phoenix is 20-11 at home this season.
“I’m just proud, we want to protect our home court,” Suns big man Jusuf Nurkic said. “We haven’t started directly on our field, but we want to see the arena full, engaged and show our fans that we take care of our field.”
Do you have any thoughts on the current state of the Suns? Contact Suns insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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