Phoenix Suns: Bradley Beal out at least two weeks with sprained right ankle

PORTLAND — No wonder Bradley Beal is optimistic about a quicker return from a right ankle sprain suffered in Friday’s loss to the New York Knicks.

The Phoenix Suns released an update Monday on Beal’s status that has him missing at least the next two weeks, after which he will be re-evaluated early in January.

Sources had told The Republic previously that Beal will likely be out two to three weeks with best case scenario being two weeks and worst case being four.

The Suns (14-12) face Portland (6-19), losers of their last seven games, Tuesday after rallying Sunday to defeat the Wizards, 112-108, to conclude a five-game homestand.

“You want to protect homecourt and New York came in here and kicked our ass on our homecourt,” Suns star guard Devin Booker said. “We were on our way to that after the first two quarters of (Sunday). We just have to get it together.”

The Suns will also be without Josh Okogie (hip) and Damion Lee (knee) for Tuesday's game. Lee hasn't been available all season after having surgery Oct. 11 on his right meniscus while Okogie has missed the last three games after hurting his hip in the first half Dec. 12 against the Warriors.

Okogie had scored 10 point in 11 minutes of his last game before leaving it with the injury. Grayson Allen is listed as probable with right hamstring soreness while Nassir Little is available with an orbital fracture as he's wearing a protective mask.

This will also be a return game for Jusuf Nurkic, Drew Eubanks and Little. Nurkic and Little were part of the three-team trade that landed Damian Lillard in Milwaukee and Deandre Ayton in Portland before the start of this season's training camp.

Nurkic spent six full seasons with the Blazers after being traded from Denver to Portland during the 2016-17 season. The Blazers drafted Little in the first round of the 2019 draft. He played his first four seasons with Portland.

As for Eubanks, he joined Portland on a 10-day contract in February 2022 and played a career-high 78 games last season for the Blazers. He is from Troutdale, Oregon, which is 16 miles from Portland.

Eubanks played college ball at Oregon State. He signed with Phoenix as a free agent.

This is Ayton's second game against his former team. The top overall pick in the 2018 draft out of Arizona had 18 points and eight rebounds in a 120-107 loss for the Blazers in the NBA In-Season Tournament group play.

Beal hurt his ankle landing on Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo’s foot in Friday’s loss. He has played in just six games this season as low back issues have limited him this season.

The three-time All-Star is averaging 14.7 points, Beal’s lowest since his rookie year when he averaged 13.9 in the 2012-13 season after being drafted third overall by Washington out of Florida.

Before Sunday’s win over his former team, Beal talked about how he felt much better Sunday than Saturday.

“(Saturday) was a little nasty, I didn’t feel as great, but (Sunday), I woke up a lot better,” Beal said. “I can put a lot of weight on my foot I can walk around. So that’s very promising.”

When asked if he’ll be back within two weeks, Beal said, “I hope so.”

The Suns play at Sacramento (15-9) Friday.

The Kings won in Phoenix, 114-106, Dec. 8 in a matchup between the two quarterfinals losers in the NBA In-Season Tournament.

As a result, the two Pacific Division teams will play each other five times this season instead of four with three of the matchups being in Phoenix.

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: Phoenix Suns say Bradley Beal out a least two weeks with sprained ankle