Devin Booker, Bradley Beal sidelined for Suns vs. Lakers in 2nd game

Devin Booker and Bradley Beal sit out due to injuries as the Phoenix Suns face the Los Angeles Lakers.

On October 24th, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker was fouled by Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga during the first half of their game in San Francisco. However, when the Suns visited the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, both Booker and Bradley Beal were unable to play due to injuries.

According to Phoenix coach Frank Vogel, Booker had "tweaked his foot" in their season-opening victory over the Warriors, resulting in significant left foot soreness. Despite this, Booker had led the Suns with an impressive 32 points in that game. On the other hand, Beal, who was acquired by the Suns from the Washington Wizards in a trade involving Chris Paul, has yet to make his debut for the team due to lower back tightness.

Vogel mentioned that Beal is still experiencing symptoms in response to his increased workload, making him unable to play. With Booker and Beal out, Kevin Durant was the only healthy member of the Suns' new Big Three as they faced off against LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the Lakers' home opener. Vogel did not disclose who would replace Booker in the starting lineup.

Interestingly, this game marked the first time James and Durant had faced each other since Christmas 2018. In the past 13 meetings between their teams, they had missed each other due to various reasons such as injuries, load management, and health and safety protocols.

Furthermore, this game was also significant for Vogel as it was his return to face the Lakers for the first time since being fired by the team. Vogel had led the Lakers to their 17th NBA title in the 2020 Florida bubble before his departure.

Despite the circumstances, Vogel expressed his positive feelings about returning to the Lakers' home court. He described it as a wonderful experience, seeing familiar faces and reminiscing about the memories he had created during his time with the team. Vogel acknowledged that he had become part of the Lakers' championship legacy and had fond memories of his time there.

In conclusion, the absence of Booker and Beal due to injuries added an interesting dynamic to the Suns' game against the Lakers. It also marked a long-awaited reunion between LeBron James and Kevin Durant on the court. Additionally, Vogel's return to face his former team added another layer of intrigue to the matchup. Despite the setbacks, Vogel remained positive and expressed his gratitude for his time with the Lakers.

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