8 minutes from Bradley Beal in one of his worst games ever

ByNBAUSA



Bradley BealHis return to Phoenix was supposed to be a statement game. instead, turned into a roll with low lighting The Clippers would rather forget. In Thursday night’s 115-102 loss to the Suns, c Los Angeles Clippers brought to the bottom. They trailed by as many as 25 points and watched their newest star endure one of the worst performances of his career.

Beal’s stats told the story. He had a paltry 5 points on 2-of-14 shooting, including 1-of-5 from 3-point range, one rebound, one assist, two turnovers and three fouls. With both James Harden (personal leave) and Kawhi Leonard (sprained ankle) sidelined, Bill had every opportunity to lead the way. His rhythm, however, disappeared under the desert lights.

Suns fans booing it didn’t help. Once hailed as part of Phoenix’s “Big Three,” Beal’s short, injury-riddled tenure there left lingering frustration among fans. On Thursday, those frustrations poured out from the stands.

Beal looked tense from the start. He missed open jumpersforced bad shots, and struggled to find his spots in Tyronn Lue’s offense. By the time the fourth quarter got underway, Beal’s confidence was gone.

The timing couldn’t have been worse. The Clippers are now 3-5 and sit at the bottom of the Pacific Division, tied with the Sacramento Kings. They looked nothing like the team that blew the Suns away in their opener. Beal’s disastrous night came just as new Phoenix acquisition Jaylen Green debuted with 29 points in just 23 minutes.

Beal’s minutes restriction has kept him under 21 minutes per game so far this season. However, Thursday’s show marked a new low. His limited time on the floor produced the worst plus-minus of any Clipper this season. The organization continues to preach patience. However, for the veteran on a two-year, $11 million deal, time may be running short.

Saturday’s rematch at the Intuit Dome offers Beal a quick chance at redemption. However, after a night like this, Clippers fans may be wondering if a buyout is still part of the plan.





2025-11-07 22:16:00

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