Bradley Beal scores 25 off bench, says Suns mum on trade talk

PHILADELPHIA — Bradley Beal made essentially the most of an unfamiliar position Monday, scoring 25 factors in his first sport off the bench in 9 years.

Beal scored 20 factors within the second half as Phoenix overcame an early 12-point deficit to snap a four-game shedding streak with a 109-99 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Beal’s transfer to the bench sparked rumors that the guard may very well be on the commerce block, although a no-trade clause in his contract means he’d should log off on any deal.

When requested if his transfer to the bench had one thing to do with the commerce rumors, Beal says he has not heard something from the group.

“In that case, I should be addressed as a result of I maintain the playing cards,” he instructed reporters after Monday’s sport. “Till I am addressed and someone says one thing totally different, then I will be a Solar.”

Beal, a 13-year veteran and three-time All-Star, additionally mentioned he accepts the change coach Mike Budenholzer made within the lineup however made it clear he considers himself a starter within the NBA.

“Coach made his resolution. Reside with it,” he instructed the AZCentral.com. “It is type of twofold. I am a starter within the league. I firmly consider that. No disrespect to anyone, however I am a starter. … Coach decided. I am not going to sit down there and argue with him. I am not going to sit down right here and be a distraction.”

Beal final got here off the bench in the course of the 2015-16 season whereas getting back from an damage with the Washington Wizards.

Budenholzer additionally moved Jusuf Nurkic, who was getting back from a three-game suspension for his position in a battle towards Dallas, right into a reserve position and mentioned earlier than the sport each gamers dealt with the information nicely.

“I really feel like we wanted to make a change,” Budenholzer mentioned. “All through a 48-minute sport, you bought to determine your finest mixtures, your finest methods to attempt to have success. They’re two essential gamers to us, two superb gamers for us. We simply felt like we wanted to make a change.

“They’re execs. I talked to every of them individually. They need what’s finest for the group. I’ve loads of respect for them and an appreciation for them.”

Beal and Nurkic (5 factors, seven rebounds) gave the Suns’ bench an enormous increase because the Phoenix reserves outscored Philadelphia’s bench 54-7. It was the second-most factors the Suns’ bench has scored in a sport over the previous two seasons, in accordance with ESPN Analysis.

“What he was in a position to do tonight actually put us in an ideal spot, made a bunch of performs for himself, bunch of performs for his teammates,” Budenholzer mentioned of Beal. “He is been a professional. He was there for us tonight in an enormous manner.”

The Related Press contributed to this report.