Phoenix Suns DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

Phoenix Suns forward Bradley Beal (ankle) is doubtful ahead of Saturday's matchup with the Pistons. The veteran tweaked his ankle and wasn't available versus the Wizards on Thursday. But it appears he'll miss his 11th game of the 2024-25 campaign on Saturday night. Without him, Ryan Dunn will likely remain in the starting lineup, with the 22-year-old amassing 18 points, 11 rebounds, and one block against Washington. With double-digit scoring performances in the last four games, Dunn deserves starting consideration from fantasy managers for the meeting with Detroit.

Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic (illness) is still not available for the Suns after testing positive for the flu. Nurkic had fallen out of the Suns rotation even before the illness, and his time with the team could be quickly coming to an end after the Suns acquired Nick Richards on Wednesday. Nurkic averaged 8.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 23.7 minutes per game in his 25 games this season, but it remains uncertain when and where he'll play next. At this point, Mason Plumlee has stepped in as the starting center for the Suns with rookie Oso Ighodaro serving as his primary backup. Both are in a good matchup on Thursday against the Wizards with Nurkic out and Richards not yet available for his debut.

Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards is listed as out for the team's Thursday night matchup with the Wizards in Washington. He was acquired in a trade from the Hornets on Wednesday night but has not joined the team yet, according to the official NBA Injury Report. Richards' next chance to suit up for Phoenix will be Saturday in Detroit. Until he's ready, Mason Plumlee will likely continue to start with Oso Ighodaro as his primary backup since Jusuf Nurkic (illness) was also listed out for Thursday Night's game.

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (ankle) was downgraded to out after being initially listed as doubtful for Thursday night's matchup against the Wizards. Beal sustained his sprained ankle on Tuesday against the Hawks. Beal won't get a chance to face his old team on Thursday, but he has been playing pretty well since moving to the bench for the Suns. While he's out on Thursday, other members of the second unit like Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale will get more work. Allen could be an especially strong DFS or streaming option in a fantasy-friendly matchup against the Wizards, who allow the most points per game in the NBA.

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (ankle) will likely miss Thursday's return to his old stomping ground, as the team has labeled him doubtful ahead of the game against Washington. Beal injured his left ankle against Atlanta on Tuesday. Phoenix sent the former Wizards leader to the second unit earlier this month, but Beal has coped fairly well with his new role. He has averaged 16.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists coming off the bench. Other bench pieces, like Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale, should feature more in the rotation if Beal can't play in Thursday's game. Allen has more fantasy upside, particularly in a matchup against a team that gives up the most three-point attempts in the league.