Bradley Beal came off the bench and delivered a season-high 25 points, including 20 in the second half, as the Phoenix Suns snapped a four-game losing streak with a 109-99 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night. The win marked only the Suns’ second in their past nine games, fueled by a decisive third-quarter surge.
Looking to ignite his team, Suns coach Mike Budenholzer made a bold move by shifting Beal and Jusuf Nurkic to reserve roles. The strategy paid off as Phoenix’s bench outscored Philadelphia’s reserves 54-7. Despite trailing by 12 early and facing a seven-point deficit midway through the third quarter, the Suns responded with a 25-6 run, flipping the game’s momentum and building a lead they never relinquished.
Kevin Durant added 23 points and Ryan Dunn contributed 15, while the Suns shot an impressive 46.7% (14-for-30) from beyond the arc. Durant, Beal, and Dunn each knocked down three triples to lead Phoenix’s long-range attack.
Philadelphia played without center Joel Embiid, sidelined with a left foot sprain for the 21st time this season. Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 31 points and 10 assists, while Kelly Oubre added 26 points. Guerschon Yabusele chipped in with 14 points and 10 rebounds, but the Sixers fell to 7-14 in games without Embiid.
Despite the early effort to build a lead, the Sixers couldn’t overcome their lack of depth against a reinvigorated Suns squad. Let’s provide a grade for every Suns player after the game.
Bradley Beal: A-
Stats: 25 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 5 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 10-15 FG, 3-6 3PT, 2-2 FT, +14, 30 MIN
Bradley Beal embraced his new role off the bench and delivered a season-high 25 points, with 20 coming in the second half. His efficiency (10-of-15 FG, 3-of-6 3PT) and playmaking (5 assists) were critical in sparking the Suns’ third-quarter surge. Beal’s energy and scoring punch reinvigorated the team, and his +14 plus-minus reflected his strong impact on the game.
Kevin Durant: B+
Stats: 23 PTS, 6 REB (0 OREB, 6 DREB), 5 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 3 TO, 1 PF, 9-14 FG, 3-4 3PT, 2-3 FT, +3, 34 MIN
Kevin Durant was steady and efficient, scoring 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting while contributing 6 rebounds and 5 assists. He played a vital role in the Suns’ offensive rhythm, particularly from beyond the arc (3-of-4 3PT). However, his 3 turnovers and modest +3 plus-minus slightly tempered an otherwise solid performance.
Ryan Dunn: B
Stats: 15 PTS, 4 REB (0 OREB, 4 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 6-11 FG, 3-6 3PT, 0-0 FT, -3, 27 MIN
Dunn stepped up with 15 points, providing timely shooting (6-of-11 FG, 3-of-6 3PT) and hustle on the boards with 4 rebounds. While his defensive presence could have been stronger, his offensive contribution was crucial in helping the Suns build and maintain their lead.
Devin Booker: C+
Stats: 10 PTS, 4 REB (0 OREB, 4 DREB), 10 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 2 PF, 3-16 FG, 1-5 3PT, 3-6 FT, +9, 38 MIN
Devin Booker had a mixed night, dishing out 10 assists and showing playmaking versatility, but his shooting woes (3-of-16 FG, 1-of-5 3PT) limited his scoring impact. Despite this, his +9 plus-minus indicated he still contributed positively, especially in facilitating for his teammates during key moments.
Oso Ighodaro: C+
Stats: 8 PTS, 6 REB (2 OREB, 4 DREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 2 PF, 4-6 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, +6, 21 MIN
Ighodaro provided solid energy off the bench, scoring 8 points on an efficient 4-of-6 shooting while grabbing 6 rebounds. His effort on the glass and ability to finish plays inside helped the Suns capitalize on second-chance opportunities, though his turnovers (2) and defensive lapses left room for improvement.
Monte Morris: C+
Stats: 7 PTS, 0 REB (0 OREB, 0 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 2-4 FG, 1-1 3PT, 2-2 FT, +11, 22 MIN
Monte Morris chipped in 7 points in 22 minutes, showcasing his shooting efficiency (2-of-4 FG, 1-of-1 3PT) and calm demeanor. His +11 plus-minus reflected his ability to contribute to the Suns’ success, even without making a significant statistical impact.
Mason Plumlee: C+
Stats: 2 PTS, 7 REB (1 OREB, 6 DREB), 2 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -2, 13 MIN
Plumlee played his role effectively, grabbing 7 rebounds and providing interior presence with 2 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. Though he only scored 2 points, his defensive activity and rebounding made him a key contributor during his 13 minutes on the floor.
Jusuf Nurkic: C+
Stats: 5 PTS, 7 REB (1 OREB, 6 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 3 PF, 1-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 3-4 FT, +6, 14 MIN
Nurkic, coming off the bench, had a quiet but efficient night with 5 points and 7 rebounds in 14 minutes. His ability to draw fouls and knock down free throws (3-of-4 FT) added value, but his turnovers (2) and defensive inconsistencies limited his overall impact.
Grayson Allen: C
Stats: 6 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 2-3 FG, 1-1 3PT, 1-2 FT, +3, 14 MIN
Grayson Allen scored 6 points on 2-of-3 shooting and added a steal, but his performance was otherwise unremarkable. His limited playing time (14 minutes) didn’t provide many opportunities for him to make a significant impact, though his +3 plus-minus showed he wasn’t a liability.
Tyus Jones: C
Stats: 5 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 2 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 2-7 FG, 1-5 3PT, 0-0 FT, +1, 20 MIN
Tyus Jones struggled with his shot (2-of-7 FG, 1-of-5 3PT) and managed just 5 points in 20 minutes. While he added 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal, his lack of offensive production and shooting inefficiency detracted from his overall performance.
Josh Okogie: N/A
Stats: 3 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 1-2 FG, 1-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, +2, 7 MIN
In just 7 minutes of action, Okogie scored 3 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, and added an assist. While his small sample size makes it hard to evaluate his overall impact, his brief stint provided some energy and a +2 plus-minus during his time on the floor.
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