Bradley Beal delivered a dominant performance off the bench for the first time in nine years, scoring 25 points to guide the Phoenix Suns (16-18) to a 109-99 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers (14-20) on Monday night. The Suns halted a four-game losing streak with the win, overcoming an early double-digit deficit.
Beal, who was shifted to a reserve role by head coach Mike Budenholzer, scored 20 of his points in the second half. His effort helped Phoenix outscore Philadelphia’s bench 54-7, providing a crucial spark after the Suns trailed by 12 points in the opening quarter.
Kevin Durant added 23 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while Ryan Dunn contributed 15 points. The Suns, who shot 46.7% from three-point range, used the bench’s energy to secure only their second win in nine games.
Tyrese Maxey paced the Sixers with 31 points and 10 assists, but his efforts fell short in the absence of Joel Embiid. Embiid missed his 21st game of the season with a left foot sprain, forcing Philadelphia to rely on Guerschon Yabusele, who tallied 14 points and 10 rebounds. Kelly Oubre Jr. added 26 points for the Sixers, who have now dropped three of their last four games.
The game began with Phoenix’s lineup shakeup, as Beal and Jusuf Nurkic moved to the bench. The strategy paid off, with the Suns bench outmatching Philadelphia’s reserves. Phoenix’s defense clamped down after a shaky start, holding the Sixers to just 39.1% shooting overall.
Beal’s efficiency was a standout, as he hit 10 of his 15 shots, including three three-pointers. His two free throws with just under a minute left extended Phoenix’s lead to double digits, sealing the victory.
Philadelphia shot just 61.5% from the free-throw line, a factor that hurt them late in the game.
The Suns’ ball movement was another highlight, as they recorded 32 assists on 41 made field goals. Devin Booker led the team with 10 assists, despite a quiet scoring night with only 10 points on 3-for-16 shooting.
For the Sixers, Paul George, playing through shooting struggles, contributed 13 points and nine rebounds, but the lack of offensive support proved costly.
