The Phoenix Suns are off to a slow start in the 2023-24 NBA season, owing mostly to injuries to Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. With both Booker and Beal out with injuries, Kevin Durant has been left with a massive load to bear on the floor for the Suns, who were just defeated 112-100 on the road by Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.

When Booker and Beal return to the court, things should improve for the Suns. The two did not play again in the Sixers game, but Durant remained upbeat about them despite the setback.

“I’m just excited for him,” Durant said of Beal, who appears to be getting closer to making his Phoenix debut (h/t Duan Rankin of AZcentral).

“I know how much these dudes want to play,” Kevin Durant added of Booker, who has been in and out of the starting lineup this season.

Booker has appeared in just two games this season. In his most recent performance, he had 31 points, 13 assists, and nine rebounds in 35 minutes against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, before missing out Saturday’s game due to ankle soreness.

Beal, on the other hand, is yet to play for the Suns because of a back injury. However, according to Rankin, he did a “extensive pregame workout” before the Philly game, which bodes well for his availability against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.