On Friday evening, the Phoenix Suns faced off against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City, with Bradley Beal ruled out due to a lower back strain. The star guard will be sidelined for at least the next three weeks, adding to the challenges the Suns have faced with his limited play this season.

Beal, in his first year with the Suns after a trade from the Washington Wizards over the offseason, has been hampered by the back issue, limiting his participation in both games and training camp. In the three games he played this season, Beal averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per contest, shooting 39.1% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range.

Phoenix, having sacrificed depth to acquire Beal and Kevin Durant, faces challenges when their stars are off the floor. The next three weeks present a manageable schedule for the Suns during Beal’s absence, with five games against teams with some of the worst records in the league, including the Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers, and Memphis Grizzlies. The only teams with a winning record currently on their schedule are the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks.