On Tuesday night, the Phoenix Suns welcomed back two of their star players, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, who had been sidelined by persistent calf injuries. Durant’s absence, in particular, had hurt the Suns as they struggled to a 1-6 record without him. However, with Durant’s return, the Suns found their rhythm again, securing a dominant 127-100 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, putting them in a strong position to win their NBA Cup group.
For a team like the Suns, known for performing well in clutch situations, this comfortable win was much-needed, and head coach Mike Budenholzer agreed. “We needed a game like this,” he said, according to ClutchPoints Suns reporter Hayden Cilley. “I think we needed to build on it. We need to fill our cup up tonight and get ready to play again tonight. This was 48 minutes closer to what you want, what you strive for.”
The game was evenly contested in the first half, but the Suns broke away in the third quarter, fueled by Devin Booker’s hot shooting. Their defense also stepped up, forcing the Lakers into tough shots, which led to the game slipping further from the Lakers’ grasp.
It remains unclear whether both Durant and Beal will play in the second leg of the back-to-back against the Brooklyn Nets later that night, but with their returns, the Suns are expected to be at full strength again.
When Durant and Beal were out, Devin Booker had to shoulder a heavy load offensively. Opposing teams would often double-team Booker, forcing him to pass the ball more frequently. The Suns won only one of their seven games without Durant, highlighting the challenges of relying on Booker alone. However, with both Durant and Beal back, the Suns flourished. Booker played a key role in their third-quarter surge, scoring 11 points in quick succession as Phoenix’s lead over the Lakers grew to a commanding level. Booker finished the game with 26 points and 10 assists, and now the Suns are focused on making up for the lost ground over the past few weeks.
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