Phoenix-suns vs Washington-wizards Picks and Predictions January 25th 2025

Speculation Swirls Around Suns’ Bradley Beal as Wizards Visit

The Phoenix Suns have shown signs of life lately, winning seven of their last 10 games to move above .500 for the first time in weeks. But as they host the struggling Washington Wizards on Saturday, the future of Bradley Beal remains one of the hottest topics in the NBA trade market.

Trade Rumors Swirl Around Beal, Suns’ “Big Three”

The Suns were supposed to have a Big Three after acquiring Bradley Beal from the Wizards last year to pair with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. But things haven’t worked out as expected.

• Beal has missed 42 regular-season games in 1 ½ seasons with Phoenix due to injuries.
• His scoring has dipped from 22+ PPG in his last seven seasons with Washington to just 17.1 PPG this season.
• He was recently moved to a bench role and his name has surfaced in multiple trade rumors, including a potential blockbuster deal involving Miami’s Jimmy Butler.

Beal, who has a no-trade clause, is listed as probable for Saturday’s game after missing Wednesday’s 108-84 win over Brooklyn with an ankle injury.

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Coach Mike Budenholzer confirmed Beal practiced Friday:

“We’ve got to keep seeing how it feels. Hopefully, he can go tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Phoenix has reportedly explored trade scenarios that could send Beal elsewhere while potentially bringing Butler to the Suns. Any deal would likely involve multiple teams due to salary constraints.

Phoenix Rolling Behind Booker, Durant

While the uncertainty surrounding Beal lingers, the Suns’ two remaining stars are thriving:

• Devin Booker (32 points) and Kevin Durant (24 points) led the Suns past the Nets in their last game.
• Durant has scored at least 20 points in 20 consecutive games.
• Newly acquired big man Nick Richards (15 rebounds vs. Brooklyn) has been a strong presence inside.

Phoenix won the first matchup against Washington this season, 130-123 on Jan. 16, behind 37 points from Booker.

Wizards on a 12-Game Losing Streak, Struggling on the Road

The Wizards (7-37) have lost 12 straight games, their second-longest skid of the season after a 16-game losing streak earlier this year.

They are 0-4 on their current six-game road trip and just 1-19 away from home this season.

Their struggles continued Thursday in a 110-93 loss to the Clippers, where they:

• Shot just 34% from the field.
• Trailed by as many as 27 points.
• Never held a lead.

Coach Brian Keefe remains optimistic despite the tough stretch:

“I thought the defense made a big jump in the second half, and that’s a big area of focus for us right now.”

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Key Wizards Players to Watch

• Jordan Poole (24 points, 9 assists vs. Clippers) – but shot just 6-of-19.
• Bilal Coulibaly (15 points, 3 steals) – has scored double figures in six of the last seven games.

Coulibaly wants the Wizards to fix their slow starts:

“Everybody has to be locked in and come with a lot of energy, like we usually have been doing in the fourth quarter.”

Key Matchups & X-Factors

1. Devin Booker vs. Jordan Poole

• Booker torched the Wizards for 37 points in their first meeting.
• Poole needs to step up his efficiency to keep Washington competitive.

2. Kevin Durant vs. Bilal Coulibaly

• Durant continues to be the Suns’ most consistent scorer.
• Coulibaly is improving defensively but faces a tough test against the two-time Finals MVP.

3. Nick Richards vs. Wizards’ Interior Defense

• Richards has brought rebounding and toughness to Phoenix.
• The Wizards struggle inside, ranking near the bottom of the league in rebounding and rim protection.

Can Phoenix Keep Rolling?

With trade speculation swirling and Beal’s return uncertain, the Suns must stay focused. They are heavily favored against a Wizards team that hasn’t won a game since early January.

Expect Booker and Durant to lead Phoenix to another victory, while all eyes will be on Bradley Beal’s status—and potential trade future—against his former team.