Bradley Beal was ruled out for the second half of Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers with left calf soreness.
He checked out the game with 3:01 left in the first half and didn’t return. Playing 15 minutes, Beal didn’t score in going 0-for-4 from the field at PHX Arena.
Beal missed two games with left calf tightness, returned Sunday against Minnesota, but was listed as questionable going into Tuesday’s game. He scored 18 points in a loss to the Timberwolves.
The Suns (28-33) are 2-8 in their last 10 games.
More: Bradley Beal says ‘grass isn’t always greener’ with Suns, doesn’t regret decision
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns’ Bradley Beal out 2nd half vs. Clippers with calf tightness
Kevin Durant doesn’t seem like he’s meshing well in Phoenix much at all anymore.
The Suns star was spotted ripping his arm away from head coach Mike Budenholzer and getting into a brief spat with the longtime NBA coach during a timeout in their 119-117 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.
It’s unclear what led to the incident specifically, though TNT reporter Stephanie Ready said on the broadcast that the two had a “discussion” over an apparent “miscommunication” on the court.
Kevin Durant and Mike Budenholzer 👀 pic.twitter.com/LDSebVGEev
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) March 5, 2025
Full video of the exchange isn’t much better, though it did show the two seemingly making up during the timeout.
🚨MUST SEE🚨Here’s the FULL VIDEO exchange with Kevin Durant and Mike Budenholzer…
Bud grabs KD arm.. KD pulls it away… what the broadcast DID NOT show you — after the TV timeout, our camera caught KD tapping Bud to talk. @12SportsAZ pic.twitter.com/9tyWmcm1G1
— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) March 5, 2025
Still, a head coach and a star player like Durant disagreeing publicly is never a great sign, but Durant addressed the matter after the game when asked and predictably downplayed the incident.
pic.twitter.com/u2mvnNIoqR
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) March 5, 2025
The Suns ended up rallying out of a 23-point hole to grab a two-point win. Durant finished with 34 points, 19 of which came in the fourth quarter. It also marked the largest fourth-quarter comeback in team history.
Devin Booker added 17 points and eight assists for Phoenix in the win. Nick Richards finished with 16 points and seven rebounds, and Mason Plumlee added 14 points off the bench. Ivica Zubac led the Clippers with 35 points and 10 rebounds, and James Harden had 21 points and 15 assists.
Durant and the Suns appear to be on a path toward a split this summer. It looked like the Suns were going to trade him at the deadline to the Golden State Warriors, however that deal then quickly fell apart. Durant later confirmed that he didn’t want to return to the Warriors simply because he didn’t want to move.
But the Suns have been struggling, and the team is reportedly set to make a move to deal Durant this summer. Despite their win Tuesday, the Suns have lost 11 of their last 15 games and sit at just 29-33 on the season. They are currently on pace to miss the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 campaign, which was finished in the COVID-19 bubble at Walt Disney World. The combo of Durant, Booker and Bradley Beal — which seems like it should be fantastic on paper — just hasn’t worked out this season.
They got the win and both Durant and Budenholzer appeared to smooth things over, but things are not great in Phoenix.
The Suns rallied out of a 23-point hole to beat the Clippers 119-117 on Tuesday
Bradley Beal ruled out for Suns-Pelicans
PHOENIX SUNS
Feb 27, 2025, 5:26 PM | Updated: 5:29 pm
BY BRANDON CADIZ
Arizona Sports
Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal has been ruled for Thursday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans with left calf tightness, head coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters pregame.
The guard played in Tuesday night’s 151-148 overtime loss on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies.
He scored 24 points on 9-of-20 shooting from the field and 4-of-6 from three while recording 11 assists, five rebounds and two steals.
Monte Morris is also out with lower back spasms.
Morris has not played since Feb. 8 and has remained out due to lower back spasms. He is averaging nearly five points (4.9), 1.7 assists and 1.4 rebounds.
Cody Martin, who Phoenix traded for at the Feb. 6 trade deadline, remains out with a sports hernia injury. He still has not played a game for Phoenix.
Guard Brandon Boston is out with a left ankle sprain.
He has not played since Feb. 8 against Sacramento where he scored 11 points in 15 minutes. Boston is averaging 10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists on 43.6% shooting this season.
Fellow guard Bruce Brown won’t go due to conditioning.
Brown did play in New Orleans’ latest game against the Spurs on Tuesday. He scored eight points on 3-of-8 shooting, while adding in six rebounds and six assists.
Forward Kelly Olynyk is also out due to rest.
Forward Herb Jones and guard Dejounte Murray have been ruled out for the season as Jones suffered a right torn rotator cuff and Murray ruptured his right Achilles.
Pelicans-Suns tips off at 7 p.m. MST and can be heard on 98.7, the Arizona Sports app or online.
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