Suns’ Kevin Durant to return on Tuesday, Bradley Beal remains out

Kevin Durant will return to the Phoenix Suns’ lineup on Tuesday against the Memphis Grizzlies after a three-game absence due to a left ankle sprain.

Bradley Beal will miss his third straight game (great left toe sprain), while recent trade addition Cody Martin remains out as he recovers from a sports hernia, according to the NBA injury report.

Sharpshooter Grayson Allen is probable to suit up at Footprint Center with left knee soreness. Guard Vasilije Micic, acquired in the Jusuf Nurkic trade with Charlotte alongside Martin, is questionable to make his Suns debut with a left ankle sprain.

Rookie big man Oso Ighodaro, meanwhile, will be on G League assignment.

The Suns went 1-2 in their last three games without Durant, falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets with a win over the Utah Jazz thanks to 47 points from Devin Booker.

Tuesday will be Durant’s first game played with Phoenix since the trade deadline, when a deal to send him to Golden State was close before his dissatisfaction with a reunion quashed the momentum.

He spoke to reporters on Monday for the first time since the ordeal, saying he never wanted to move teams and is frustrated by the microscope he will be placed under for the rest of the season.

“My body language, how I speak to you guys after the games, how I’m looking on the bench — that stuff is going to be magnified,” Durant said. “Which sucks, but like I said that’s part of the business that I just gotta deal with and accept.”

Beal has played in 37 of Phoenix’s 52 games this season. Coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters Beal did not practice on Monday.

Grizzlies injury report vs. Suns

Memphis ruled out Marvin Bagley (right ankle sprain) and Cam Spencer (left thumb surgery), while rookie center Zach Edey is available with a nasal fracture.

Edey did not play when the Grizzlies beat the Suns 117-112 on Dec. 31, nor did point guard Ja Morant, forward Santi Aldama, forward Brandon Clarke, guard Vince Williams Jr. or forward GG Jackson. They are all available on Tuesday.

Memphis is coming off a loss to Oklahoma City but won its previous four games. It sits in the second seed of the Western Conference at 35-17. Phoenix, Sacramento and Golden State are tied for the 9-11 seeds at 26-26 entering play on Monday.

Tuesday’s game at Footprint Center will tip off at 8 p.m. MST on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.

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