Sources – Kevin Durant of the Suns and Bradley Beal plan to return against the Lakers

Sources – Kevin Durant of the Suns and Bradley Beal plan to return against the Lakers

Phoenix Suns stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal plan to return in Tuesday’s NBA Cup game against the Los Angeles Lakers, sources told ESPN on Monday.

Durant has been sidelined since Nov. 8 with a left calf strain, the same injury he battled during the offseason before helping lead USA Basketball to an Olympic gold medal in Paris. Beal suffered his calf injury on November 12 against the Utah Jazz.

Both Durant and Beal completed consecutive full days of practice before Tuesday’s game.

The 36-year-old Durant entered the season in his 18th season on an MVP-caliber note – averaging 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 53.3% shooting and 42.9% from 3-point range while He led the Suns to an 8-1 start before his injury.

The Suns are 1-6 this season without the two-time NBA Finals MVP.

“That’s the most important thing about our team: If we can be healthy, then we know who we can be. We have to check that box,” Beal said Monday. “Our availability is our best ability. In the end we can’t talk about it anymore. We know what we can do, but we have to go out and prove it and keep playing. Somehow we’re starting the year the way we do. … Go ahead and pick up where we left off and really make progress.”

The 31-year-old Beal, a three-time All-Star, is averaging 17.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists in his second season with the Suns.

“I definitely feel a lot better. Definitely a good rehab process,” Beal said. “Grateful we had the schedule we did, so we had a few days off, K and I. I feel great. I’m excited for (Tuesday).”

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