NBA looking better on paper

Some are injured, but many are not

KEVIN DURANT AND BRADLEY BEAL

The Suns began 2024-25 on an 8-1 run but you’d win eight of nine, too, with Kevin Durant on your side. The Suns skunked without Durant (bum calf), lost six of ten, but welcomed the Hall of Famer back on Tuesday night in time for Phoenix’s 127-100 win over the Lakers.

The Suns were 9-2 when Bradley Beal (bum calf) went down, lost five straight with Bradley Beal out. Bradley Beal returns Tuesday, the Suns now own a one-game winning streak.

The Lakers wanted this, had a practice, talked a strong internal game about shaping up that external defense but, nope, the Suns managed 51/40/80 in Tuesday’s victory, the PHX bench turned it over twice. Beal and Devin Booker combined for 49 points and a dozen assists on 20-32 from the floor.

Durant hit for 23 points on 9-17 from the floor, 3-6 from deep. Suns center Jusuf Nurkic was the game’s best player in a pivotal third quarter, primarily because Jusuf Nurkic got to watch Kevin Durant play basketball in the first half.

The Suns are 9-1 with Durant this season and 10-2 with Beal, quashing a losing streak upon the return of the pair. This isn’t always what happens when a team’s best players return from injury, but this is almost always what happens when a team’s best players return from injury.

KRISTAPS PORZINGIS