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Dec 3, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) and Devin Booker (1) against the San Antonio Spurs in the second half of an NBA Cup game at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Imago
Dec 3, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) and Devin Booker (1) against the San Antonio Spurs in the second half of an NBA Cup game at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Following the NBA Cup, the focus on the regular season resumes tomorrow with a plethora of games. One of them is between the Phoenix Suns and Indiana Pacers scheduled at Footprint Center. Both teams haven’t made much noise in the season so far, as they float above the playoff contention mark. However, the Valley side already has enough drama to keep the fans engaged, especially with the latest Bradley Beal trade headlines.
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Ever since the guard entered the Suns’ fold, he has been dealing with recurring injuries, though. Last season, the ex-Wizards’ star missed 25+ games dealing with back, ankle and knee injuries. And, 25 games into this fresh season, he has already missed 10 games. Amid this circumstance, the star has found himself in the rumor mill, involving credible speculation with Jimmy Butler. Considering Beal’s inconsistent appearances and an annual salary of $50.2 million, JB seems to be a perfect replacement for the Valley team.
Nevertheless, coming back to tomorrow’s contest, the question remains the same. Will Bradley Beal play? After missing the last two games, the team listed the guard out once again, citing his knee injury.
This is what Mike Budenholzer said optimistically, “He did really well in the training room is what I got and now he is doing some work post-practice,” after the practice session. Anyway, apart from Beal, the team has listed Collin Gillespie out with an ankle injury.
On the other hand, the Pacers have a pretty lengthy injury report compared to the Suns. First of all, they don’t look anything like the team that played in the Conference Finals last season. And undoubtedly, the Indy side finds itself in the trade corridor too, looking for an upgrade. Amid this equation, let’s take a look at the Pacers injury report.
- Aaron Nesmith (Ankle) – Out
- Ben Sheppard (Oblique) – Out
- Isaiah Jackson (Torn Achilles) – Out
- James Wisemen (Torn Achilles) – Out
Suns vs Pacers: Starting Lineup and Depth Charts
Even without Bradley Beal, the Phoenix team looks stacked and has all the assets to dominate the out-of-form Pacers. Grayson Allen and Ryan Dunn have pushed the boundaries of the Suns’ depth, which the team lacked for most parts of the last season. So, it wouldn’t be a surprise if we witness a one-sided game tomorrow.
Phoenix Suns
| POSITION | STARTING LINEUP | 2nd UNIT | 3rd UNIT |
| PG | Tyus Jones | Monte Morris | Ty Ty Washington |
| SG | Devin Booker | Grayson Allen | Damion Lee |
| SF | Royce O’Neale | Josh Okogie | – |
| PF | Kevin Durant | Ryan Dunn | – |
| C | Jusuf Nurkic | Mason Plumlee | Bol Bol |
Indiana Pacers
| POSITION | STARTING LINEUP | 2nd UNIT | 3rd UNIT |
| PG | Tyrese Haliburton | T.J McConnell | Quenton Jackson |
| SG | Andrew Nembhard | Johnny Furphy | Tristen Newton |
| SF | Bennedict Mathurin | Jarace Walker | – |
| PF | Pascal Siakam | OG Toppin | James Johnson |
| C | Myles Turner | Thomas Bryant | Enrique Freeman |
On paper, the Pacers look extremely deep and lethal with plenty of role players, but they still lack the required rhythm that had pushed them through last season. The trade rumors suggest that the team has eyes on Wizards’ Kyle Kuzma to stack their frontcourt. Do you think it will help the Indiana side clear the clutter? Let us know in the comments.