Sources – Suns’ Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal plan to return against Lakers

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 strained left calf, the same injury he dealt with in the offseason before 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 workouts before Tuesday’s game.

Durant, 36, started the season on an MVP-caliber streak in his 18th season — averaging 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 53.3% shooting, 42.9% from 3-point range while led the Suns to an 8-1 start before his injury.

The Suns are 1-6 this season without the two-time NBA Finals MVP.

“That’s the No. 1 thing with our team: If we can be healthy, then we know who we can be. We’ve got to check that field,” Beal said Monday. “Our availability is our best ability. In the end, we can’t keep talking about it. We know what we can do, but we have to go out and prove it and keep playing. This is how we start the year , how we did. … Pick it up and pick up where we left off and really pick up the pace.”

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.

“I definitely feel a lot better. Definitely a good rehab process,” Beal said. “Grateful we had the schedule we had so we had some rest days, K and I. I feel good. Excited for (Tuesday).”