
With Kevin Durant (ankle) unavailable and Bradley Beal ineffective in his first game back from a hamstring injury, Booker was left to shoulder most of the offensive workload on Friday. He was excellent, shooting over 50 percent from the field and only committing two turnovers in his 38 minutes on the floor. Turnovers have been one of Booker's issues recently, as he's averaged 3.8 per game over the past two weeks. Friday's performance was much-needed, and he'll look to end Week 22 on a high note when the Suns visit the Knicks on Sunday.
The most notable change to the Suns' lineup is Beal, who is back after missing time with a hamstring injury. His return pushes Collin Gillespie to the bench. Also in the lineup are O'Neale and Ighodaro, who replace Grayson Allen and Nick Richards. O'Neale is a safer streaming option than Ighodaro, but the rookie is worth a look when allowed to start.
Beal had missed the last eight games for the Suns, while O'Neale had only missed one game. Collin Gillespie had been starting in place of Beal, but with Kevin Durant (ankle) sidelined, he may remain in the starting lineup. Grayson Allen started in the Suns' last game and had a season-high 23 points. Beal should start, with Gillespie, Allen and O'Neale all potentially filling the final open starting spot. The two that are left out should play a large role off the bench.
Beal has missed Phoenix's last eight games, last seeing action March 16 against the Lakers. His return would coincide with Kevin Durant's continued absence, with KD set to miss a few more games with a sprained ankle. Grayson Allen replaced Durant in the lineup for Tuesday's loss to the Bucks and was productive, scoring 23 points. He and Collin Gillespie will see their playing time take a hit if Beal is cleared to play on Friday.
Beal (hamstring) has been cleared to play in Friday's game against the Celtics, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports.