As November nears an end, the idea in college basketball is to start picking up momentum. For these teams in the last full weekend of the month, though, not so much.Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal plan to return to the Phoenix Suns’ lineup on Tuesday when they play the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Cup. Both Durant and Beal completed consecutive days of full practices before Tuesday’s game.
Durant has been out since Nov. 8th with a left calf strain, which is the same injury he dealt with this past summer ahead of the Olympics. Durant is averaging 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 53.3% shooting, 42.9% from 3-point range while leading the Suns to an 8-1 start before his injury.
Beal suffered his calf injury on Nov. 12th. Beal is averaging 17.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists
Kristaps Porzingis will make his season debut with the Boston Celtics on Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers. Porzingis returns five months after foot surgery.
Porzinigis has ramped up his activity in recent weeks and scrimmages with the Maine Red Claws last week.
Porzingis came back from a calf strain in the first round of the playoffs to play in three games in the NBA Finals, including Game 5 after suffering his rare tendon injury in Game 2.
March Madness correspondent Andy Katz went live on Bleacher Report to break down the men’s basketball AP poll and his own Power 37 rankings released on Nov. 25, after the third week of the regular season.