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Shams Charania, ESPN
Phoenix Suns stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal plan to return against the Los Angeles Lakers in Tuesday’s NBA Cup game, sources told ESPN on Monday.
Durant has been sidelined since Nov. 8 with a left calf strain, the same injury he dealt with in the offseason ahead of helping lead USA Basketball to an Olympic gold medal in Paris. Beal suffered his calf injury on Nov. 12 against the Utah Jazz.
Both Durant and Beal completed consecutive days of full practices before Tuesday’s game.
Durant, 36, started the season on an MVP-caliber track in his 18th season — averaging 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 53.3% shooting, 42.9% from 3-point range while leading the Suns to an 8-1 start before his injury.
The Suns are 1-6 this season without the two-time NBA Finals MVP.
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.