Bradley Beal’s much-anticipated return to the court didn’t unfold as expected, leaving both him and the Phoenix Suns with a bitter taste after their clash with the Houston Rockets ended in a 109-118 loss.
Adding salt to the wound, Beal found himself ejected from the game following an altercation with the Rockets’ Jalen Green. In the aftermath, Phoenix head coach Frank Vogel stepped up in defense of Beal while taking aim at the referees, suggesting they played a role in the escalation.
Vogel emphasized, “They fouled the hell out of him going to the basket. That’s no excuse for Bradley to do that, but if you call the first foul, that stuff doesn’t happen.”
Vogel’s remarks shed light on the contentious nature of the game. He dissected the sequence of events, distinguishing between the two technical fouls Beal received. According to Vogel, the first was prompted by an incident involving the ball striking Green’s face or head, while the second followed Beal’s subsequent elbow or push.
"They fouled the hell out of him going to the basket. That's no excuse for Bradley to do that, but if you call the first foul, that stuff doesn't happen."
Frank Vogel on Bradley Beal receiving two technical fouls after his exchange with Jalen Green in #Suns loss to #Rockets. pic.twitter.com/7ji0Qlivpg
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) March 3, 2024
Beal’s return from a hamstring injury was supposed to mark the reunion of Phoenix’s Big Three on the court. However, his premature departure and lackluster performance, contributing only 7 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists, dashed those hopes.
The Suns struggled to find their rhythm offensively, particularly in the third quarter, where they were outscored 38-19 by Houston.
The pivotal moment came in the third quarter when Beal clashed with Green with seven minutes remaining, a point at which the Suns were trailing by 15 points. Beal’s altercation resulted in his second technical foul and subsequent ejection.
Despite valiant efforts from NBA veteran Kevin Durant, who led the Suns with 30 points and 9 rebounds, and Devin Booker, who scored 24 points before exiting due to a sprained ankle, Phoenix fell short. Fortunately, Vogel reassured that Booker’s X-ray report revealed no significant issues with his ankle.
With injuries casting a shadow over the team, the Suns, currently seeded sixth in the Western Conference, now face a daunting task against the second-seeded Oklahoma City Thunders. Will the wounded Suns rise to the challenge, or will it be smooth sailing for OKC? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
