Suns Rule Star Guard Out With Last Minute Injury

The Phoenix Suns will not have Bradley Beal tonight against the Utah Jazz.

Dec 5, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) reacts to the New Orleans Pelicans win at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns have ruled Bradley Beal out for tonight's game against the Utah Jazz with a knee injury.

Beal, who was not on the team's injury report previously today, was spotted leaving pre-game shootaround before the rest of the team by The Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin.

Bradley Beal had left shootaround earlier than the rest of the team with Suns staff. #Suns https://t.co/n2bbRfaoeA

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 14, 2024

"I think between yesterday and this morning, just kind of random knee swelling - so we'll see how he's doing," Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said pre-game.

"He's working right now, trying to get himself [ready], see if he can go. The final decision hasn't been made. He, medical [staff[ and myself will sit down and decide what he can do."

Mike Budenholzer said Bradley Beal right knee swelling happened between Thursday-Friday morning.

Beal now questionable after not being on injury report.

"Working right now. Trying to see if he can go."

No final decision yet. Medical, Beal, Budenholzer huddle to decide. #Suns pic.twitter.com/sYRlZS0GHq

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 14, 2024

This, of course, is a massive disappointment for the Suns, who were expecting their starting lineup to be at full strength tonight with the re-arrival of Kevin Durant, who has missed time with a ankle injury.

Beal himself has been bit by the injury bug, previously dealing with a calf injury in the early portions of the season.

It's possible we could see Devin Booker slide into the No. 2 guard spot and have any mixture of Ryan Dunn, Grayson Allen or Royce O'Neale slot into the starting five.

Phoenix is on a three-game losing streak entering tonight and hopes to get back to their winning ways with Durant again in uniform. The Suns face one of the worst teams in the league in Utah (5-18), so tonight should be a victory for Phoenix - with or without the talents of Beal.