Bradley Beal’s debut season for the Phoenix Suns is not going how the fans expected. He has played only six games this season because of multiple injuries. First, Beal missed a major chunk of games at the beginning of the season, dealing with back issues. He finally returned to action on December 12, but suffered another setback three days later. Beal sprained his ankle after landing on Donte DiVincenzo’s foot during the Knicks-Suns game on December 15.
He has missed 5 consecutive games since his horrific ankle injury. However, the Phoenix Suns fans saw a glimmer of hope as Bradley Beal received a major upgrade ahead of the match-up against the Charlotte Hornets.
Bradley Beal’s injury report
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NBA Insider Shams Charania reported that Bradley Beal’s status has been upgraded to questionable for Friday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets. That means the 3-time All-Star might make an early return to action ahead of the Suns’ 6-game homestand. That is great news for the Phoenix Suns because they have been struggling to stay afloat in the absence of Beal. Kevin Durant and Co. are 10th in the Western Conference with a 15-15 record. The Suns have been plagued by injuries throughout the season. That has stopped them from finding their rhythm.
Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal has been upgraded to questionable to play Friday vs. Charlotte. He has been out since Dec. 15 due to sprained ankle and is now set to return early in Suns’ upcoming six-game homestand. pic.twitter.com/5f7yb9LtdU
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 29, 2023
If Bradley Beal recovers early and suits up for the next game, he will add more firepower to the Suns line-up. Beal averaged 14.7 points in the six games he has played so far. The Phoenix Suns are coming off a dominant win against the young Houston Rockets squad. They beat the Rockets 129-113 in the last game and would love to carry this momentum to Friday.
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It is Championship or bust for the Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns made big moves this summer in pursuit of winning a Championship. They fired their head coach, Monty Williams, for a change in leadership. The Suns also traded their veteran leader, Chris Paul, who ended their 10-year playoff drought and led them to the NBA finals in 2021. They added Bradley Beal to the line-up and formed a lethal Big-3 of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Beal. But their gamble has not paid off so far. Despite having all the ingredients to win a title, they are stuck in the lower half of the Western Conference standings.
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This is Kevin Durant’s third super-team in five years. And if he messes it up again, he will get scrutinized for the rest of his career. This season is Championship or bust for the Suns as they have put all their chips on the table. Phoenix needs Bradley Beal in full health to achieve their goal of winning their first Championship.
Watch This Story: “Sh*t Happens”: Kevin Durant Shuns “Bad Luck” For Suns After Bradley Beal Shocker