The Phoenix Suns made a triumphant return to full strength on Tuesday night, with both Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal back on the court after recovering from calf injuries. The Suns dominated the Los Angeles Lakers, securing a 127-100 victory at the Footprint Center in Phoenix and handing the Lakers their first-ever loss in the NBA Cup.
Durant had been sidelined for seven games with a calf strain, while Beal missed five straight games due to his calf injury. The team struggled in their absence, going 1-6 without Durant and losing five consecutive games with both stars out. However, their return sparked a remarkable 22-6 run in the third quarter, led by Jusuf Nurkic, propelling the Suns to a comfortable 27-point win.
Durant contributed 23 points and six rebounds, shooting 9-of-17 from the field, while Beal added 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Devin Booker led the Suns with 26 points and 10 assists, and Nurkic chipped in with 12 points and 12 rebounds. The team shot an impressive 51.5% from the field.
On the Lakers’ side, Anthony Davis recorded 25 points and 15 rebounds in the losing effort, dropping their record to 10-7 on the season. LeBron James narrowly missed a triple-double with 18 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds.
Both the Suns and Lakers currently hold a 2-1 record in group play with one game remaining. The Lakers, last year’s NBA Cup champions, will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in their final group stage matchup, while the Suns will take on the San Antonio Spurs. The race for the top spot in the standings remains tight as the competition heads into the final game.
In other NBA Cup action, the Milwaukee Bucks managed to secure a narrow 106-103 victory over the Miami Heat despite Giannis Antetokounmpo being a late scratch due to a knee issue. Damian Lillard’s stellar performance, with 37 points and 12 assists, propelled the Bucks to their fifth consecutive win.
Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets clinched a spot in the knockout round with a thrilling 117-111 overtime victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Alperen Sengun’s incredible backward layup sealed the win for the Rockets, who overcame a late surge from the Timberwolves to advance.
As the NBA Cup group stage nears its conclusion, teams are jockeying for playoff positioning, with some securing their spots in the knockout round while others face elimination. The competition is heating up as the quest for the NBA Cup title intensifies.