Bradley Beal returns, Phoenix Suns full strength for Blazers matchup

Nov 03, 2024

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal is back in action Saturday against Portland at Footprint Center after missing Thursday’s win against the Los Angeles Clippers with a right elbow sprain.

The Suns (4-1) listed Beal as questionable in their initial injury report Friday. Beal's return marks the first game this season Phoenix has been full strength as Josh Okogie also is back from a right hamstring strain

“It’s the mental part of it,” said Beal, who is averaging 18 points in his second season with the Suns. “You want to make sure you don’t have any setbacks if you do decide to go back out there.”

Beal took an injection before Thursday’s game. He was a game-time decision, but Beal didn’t play against the Clippers. He said Saturday it feels much better going into this matchup against the Trail Blazers (2-4).

“It’s a pain tolerable thing,” Beal added.

Beal is in the starting lineup with Tyus Jones, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Jusuf Nurkic.

Rookie Ryan Dunn got the start for Beal and scored a career-high 16 points, going 4-of-9 from 3. He’s started the two games Beal has missed this season.

“Everyone had an opinion on him coming into the draft,” Beal said. “It’s just so cool to be able to see kids and guys shut up that noise and just be a pro. Try to learn your way as he’s doing.

"He’s just learning day-by-day, but you can tell he’s a willing learner and he’s a willing worker. Those are two things you can’t teach really at a young age. The sky’s the limit for him. We’re happy to have him.”

Beal sat out the home opener against Dallas with the same injury after initially hurting it in the second game of the season against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.

Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said Beal injured his elbow getting tangled up in a screen. Beal has also dealt with right shoulder soreness.

“I know I hyperextended it in the Lakers game,” Beal said. “Ever since then, just kind of kept hitting the floor.”

Beal said his “crazy block” on Lakers forward Rui Hachimura in transition that ended with him taking a hard fall to the floor during Monday’s home win against the Lakers didn’t help the injury.

Okogie hasn't played this regular season. He's been ramping up to return in the past few days.

“Just being able to load my hamstrings cause I run very hard and I run very fast,” Okogie said. “So just being able to make sure that my hamstring could take all that. Not only just take it, but sustain it for how many minutes I end up getting.”

Okogie initially hurt his hamstring in the third preseason game against the Detroit Pistons at Footprint Center.

“I was trying to chase down an offensive rebound and ended up getting it,” Okogie said. “So it wasn't for nothing and I kind of just pulled it when I was trying to stop to prevent myself from going out of bounds.”

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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