Phoenix Suns get Kevin Durant back, Bradley Beal ruled out at Jazz
Dec 13, 2024, 6:55 PM | Updated: 7:06 pm
The Phoenix Suns will have superstar forward Kevin Durant back on Friday night at the Utah Jazz, but shooting guard Bradley Beal was ruled out shortly before opening tip with right knee swelling.
Durant was listed as probable to play after missing the past three games with a left ankle sprain. Phoenix additionally left center Jusuf Nurkic and rookie forward Ryan Dunn off the injury report, and it initially appeared the team would be fully healthy in Salt Lake City.
The Suns, however, added Beal to the injury report as questionable a couple hours before tip-off. Beal will miss his ninth game of the season due to multiple injuries. Royce O’Neale will start in Beal’s place on Friday.
In 13 games played, Durant has averaged 25.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 35.7 minutes per contest. He is shooting 53.6% from the field and 44.9% from deep.
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The Suns are 1-9 this season without Durant and 11-2 with him, as he previously missed seven games in November with a left calf strain.
The Suns had not played a game entering Friday since Sunday’s loss at the Orlando Magic, and the extended break has been beneficial to limiting the number of games he’s missed with this injury.
O’Neale started the past three games in Durant’s spot and has performed well with 58 points. The Suns’ other two stars in Devin Booker and Beal, however, have struggled to push the team over the finish line in three close games without Durant.
Nurkic has missed the past five games with a right thigh contusion, while Dunn has missed the last three games with a left ankle injury.
Nurkic returned to the starting lineup on Friday.
Jazz injury report vs. Suns
Utah listed guard Jordan Clarkson (left plantar fasciitis) and forward Lauri Markkanen (lower back injury) as questionable for Friday’s game. Both players are available for Utah.
Markkanen, an All-Star and former Arizona Wildcat, is Utah’s leading scorer at 18.6 points per game. Clarkson has put up 15 points per contest this season for the 5-18 Jazz.
The game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.
