Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal likely out 2 to 3 weeks with ankle injury, sources say

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal is ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Washington Wizards, his former team, after spraining his right ankle in the first quarter of Friday’s 139-122 home loss to the New York Knicks.

The x-rays were negative, but Beal is expected to miss multiple games with the injury. Sources told The Republic he'll likely be out for two to three weeks.

Sunday's game will conclude a five-game homestand for the Suns (13-12), who have Eric Gordon listed as probable with a right lower leg contusion.

Nassir Little is questionable with left knee soreness and Josh Okogie is ruled out with a right hip injury.

Gordon and Okogie have missed Phoenix’s last two games while Little returned Wednesday against Brooklyn after missing the previous game Tuesday vs. Golden State in concussion protocol.

Little has been wearing a mask for an orbital fracture suffered in a tumble with Kings big JaVale McGee in last week's loss to Sacramento at Footprint Center to begin the five-game homestand.

Damion Lee (knee) has been out all season after having surgery Oct. 11 on his right meniscus, an injury he suffered during on-court work before training camp.

The Suns have had 10 players miss at least one game due to injury.

Beal injured his right ankle landing on Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo’s foot on a 3-point shot he made with 7:28 left in the first quarter Friday.

DiVincenzo was called for a flagrant 1 after the play was reviewed.

A frustrated Beal stayed in the game to shoot the free throw, made it, and then checked out the game. He was ruled out for the rest of the game before the first quarter ended.

“Injuries are part of the game, very disappointed for him," Suns coach Frank Vogel said. "He worked really hard. You can see the disappointment on his face in the back. That's my biggest concern is keeping him lifted. He'll get back soon enough, but it's been a frustrating injury type of season for him. In terms of us, injuries are part of the game. We can't get caught up in that. Just part of it and you move on."

This was only the second game Phoenix’s Big 3 of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Beal played together.

“Everybody is a little pissed off, sad he didn’t finish the game,” Durant said. “Twisted his ankle, but he’s a strong-minded player, person. Get ready for the rehab and looking forward to having him back. It’s a tough situation, but he can deal with it.”

Beal finished the game with six points on 2-of-2 shooting in his third game back after missing 12 consecutive games with low back issues.

"Super unfortunate,” Booker said. “Been waiting on him to get back. Uncontrollable incident. Hate to see it."

The Suns carved out a three-week window to rehab Beal’s back. He missed Phoenix’s first seven games, played the next three, but re-injured his back in a Nov. 12 loss to Oklahoma City.

Beal is averaging 14.7 points in his first season with the Suns, his lowest career average since his rookie year when he averaged 13.9 a game in 2012-13.

The Suns traded Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, four first-round pick swaps and six second-round picks to Washington for Jordan Goodwin, Isaiah Todd and Beal this past offseason.

The Wizards later traded Paul to Golden State and got Jordan Poole in return while the Suns ended up moving Todd to the Grizzlies.

Washington (4-20) is coming off a 137-123 home win Friday over Indiana.

Beal is the franchise’s second all-time leading scorer with 15,391 points and first in career 3-pointers made with 1,514.

He earned three All-Star nods and was named All-NBA in the 2020-21 season.

A proven scorer, Beal averaged 30.5 points in the 2019-20 season and a career-best 31.3 in 2020-21, but he has been plagued with injuries.

Beal played in a career-low 40 games in 2021-22 and 50 in 2022-23.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Bradley Beal likely out two to three weeks with ankle injury: Sources