Bradley Beal etches homecoming dominance after dropping season-high performance

NEW DELHI: Bradley Beal showcased his brilliance, scoring a season-high 43 points as the Phoenix Suns cruised to a commanding 140-112 victory over the Wizards on Sunday. The former Washington Wizards star received a warm welcome from the crowd, complete with a touching video tribute during Phoenix's visit to the Capital One Arena.
Beal, who spent 11 seasons with the Wizards before being traded to Phoenix last offseason, expressed his gratitude for the reception and the memories associated with his time in the city.
"Tonight was awesome," Beal said. "To be back in the city that has helped me grow as a man, drafted me on my 19th birthday. ... A lot of good memories, man, and that tribute video was awesome."


The talented guard's stellar performance included 14 points in the first quarter and an additional 12 in the second. Beal's explosive plays, including a two-handed breakaway dunk for 20 points and another dunk in the third quarter that brought his total to 35, captivated the audience.
Despite breaking his nose last week and donning a black protective mask, Beal remained unstoppable. He finished the third quarter with a 3-pointer at the buzzer, earning him 41 points. Beal's remarkable night concluded after playing 31 minutes, with his team holding a significant lead.
Phoenix Suns coach Frank Vogel acknowledged Beal's outstanding performance and shared his approach to managing the star player's playing time.
"I was not even going to leave him in to start the fourth, to be honest," Vogel said. "So we left him in a few extra minutes, but you have to approach the game the right way."
Beal, who shot an impressive 16 of 21 from the field, emphasized the collaborative energy within the team that contributed to his standout performance.
"It wasn’t like something we talked about in the locker room, but you can kind of sense the energy of the team, like that’s what we were going to do," Beal said. "And I’m not mad at it."

Reflecting on his transition to the Suns, Beal acknowledged the adjustment to sharing dominance with fellow stars like Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
"It’s been an adjustment for sure. You go from being very ball dominant, to now you share that dominance with two other guys — and three, including Nurk," Beal said. "My role is totally different here than what it was. It’s a process."
While Beal looks forward to an exciting future with the Phoenix Suns, his return to Washington served as a moment of appreciation for his NBA roots and the impact the city has had on his career.
"It was a very cool experience, the last few days," Beal said. "It was good to be able to see a lot of familiar faces. That kind of just motivated me to play a little bit harder too, just being appreciative for everything everybody’s ever done for me here, being appreciative for where I am and the team that I’m on now."
(Inputs from agencies)