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Slot on Salah posts: Not focused on outside noise
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has said he does not focus on what is being said about the club online after forward Mohamed Salah sparked further speculation about his future with a cryptic social media post.
The photo, shared on Monday, shows Salah standing over a free-kick alongside teammates Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk. All three players are out of contract at Anfield at the end of the season and have been the subject of intense media scrutiny in recent months.
Asked whether he pays attention to the external noise surrounding his players, Slot said: "I talk to my players so if there is anything that worries them, they share with me. That has not happened until now.
"What I do with the players is show them what we could have done better against [Manchester] United, what we've done well against United, because I think especially in the first half, we created some very good chances. And the mentality we showed when we were 1-0 down, that is something every fan likes to see, and every manager likes to see.
"That's what we are focused on. I'm not focused on social media posts or what is being said about us. If you do that as Liverpool manager, then you have no life because this is one of the biggest clubs in the world and every day people talk about us."
Alexander-Arnold, in particular, has been under scrutiny following his lacklustre display in Sunday's 2-2 draw with United. Last week, the right-back was the subject of transfer interest from Real Madrid, though their approach was quickly rejected by Liverpool.
Reflecting on Alexander-Arnold's performance against Ruben Amorim's side, Slot said: "I think we were all disappointed by the way we played, not only Trent. First of all, about the result.
"Parts of the game we could be quite satisfied with. Other parts of our game we weren't totally satisfied with. That was not only Trent. There were more things in the game that we could have done better.
"Trent did not play his best game, I've said that already, but that's not for the first time in his life. He's played many games so, so well for this club, now this wasn't his best, like for some others. We just pick it up and start training again today."
Liverpool are six points clear at the top of the Premier League, with a game in hand, and are top of the Champions League table. Slot's side are also through to the semifinals of the Carabao Cup and will face Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg on Wednesday night.
Asked whether Liverpool will look to bolster their ranks in the January transfer window, Slot said: "It would be a bit weird if I'd said during the summer break we are really happy with the team to tell you something different now. But we always look at the market.
"This club has always looked at the market. We did this with the goalkeeper we don't even have at the moment [Giorgi Mamardashvili]. If there's a chance in the market, this club always tries to bring that chance in. The team is in a good place.
"Unfortunately, Joe Gomez's injury means we go from four centre-backs to three. But he will be back in a few weeks, and I am very happy with the team. I think they deserve that trust from the club and from me if you look at the performances they've brought in the last half a season."
Kolo Muani for Nkunku? Zirkzee for Luiz? Transfer swaps we'd like to see
The January transfer window is open and almost every club on the planet is in need of something. The problem? No one can afford to make any deals, seemingly.
Barcelona? So strapped for cash they're embroiled in a legal battle to register their existing players. Manchester United? They're operating on a shoestring budget, with manager Ruben Amorim effectively told to make do with what he's got. Chelsea? Real Madrid? Aston Villa? All reported to be under their own financial pressure.
In all but Barcelona's case, the woes are likely being overstated; it's a ploy for market position. For example, Newcastle United are, reportedly, simultaneously under severe pressure to comply with Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) but also had 60 million to offer Crystal Palace for Marc Guéhi at the end of last summer. Still, now more than ever is the right time to get creative with transfer work, and one of the savviest things you can do is engineer swap deals.
Historically they've been incredibly difficult to pull off, with very few examples across the years, but in the last 18 months have risen to prominence as clubs try and meet financial targets.
Here, we've thought hard about five genuinely realistic swap deals that would make sense for all parties this month, allowing clubs and players to refresh their circumstances without straying over the line.
FW Randal Kolo Muani to Chelsea
MF/FW Christopher Nkunku to Paris Saint-Germain
Kolo Muani has been very publicly placed on the transfer list at PSG despite the fact that just 18 months ago, they spent an entire summer trying to sign him and ended up paying an eye-watering 80m to do so.
Admittedly, things haven't gone to plan for the striker in the French capital, but he remains an excellent player and one that many other striker-needy clubs should be delighted to acquire. His fee may prove a stumbling block, so perhaps a swap is the way to get the deal done with PSG here.
Enter: Chelsea. And enter: Nkunku. The PSG academy product (whom they would no doubt be delighted to welcome back, based on their recent focus on a Paris born-and-bred identity) barely plays for the Blues and rarely gets onto the pitch for any significant moments. It's a role that does not befit his talent.
Stylistically, Kolo Muani and Nicolas Jackson are much closer than Nkunku and Jackson, so in this swap Chelsea would acquire a player who suits Enzo Maresca's squad a lot better and could step into the system more easily.
MF Davide Frattesi to AS Roma
MF Lorenzo Pellegrini to Internazionale
This one has actually been mooted by the parties in question, and it makes our list because it does actually make sense (a lot of mooted swap deals really, really, really do not.)
Frattesi has been a solid squad player for Inter Milan since joining in 2023 -- solid, but never crucial. By the looks of things, that has led to some frustrations on his part. Pellegrini has been the epitome of crucial to Roma for a long time but his status has recently diminished in the team and he is no doubt just as frustrated as the fanbase with the club's decline, given he is a Romanisti through and through himself. Perhaps his goal in the Derby della Capitale will be a springboard for the rest of the season, or perhaps it's the perfect goodbye?
Could a swap reignite the careers of these two Italy internationals? Pellegrini could challenge for titles with Inter and slot into Simone Inzaghi's shape neatly; Frattesi could become a key man for one of football's traditional giants, helping them to brighter prospects.
MF Douglas Luiz to Manchester United
FW Joshua Zirkzee to Juventus
Both players made high-profile summer moves, and both have had disastrous opening months at their new clubs.
Zirkzee was booed off at Old Trafford when he was substituted after 33 minutes with Manchester United 2-0 down to Newcastle last month, capping a miserable opening stint in the Premier League. Luiz hasn't fared any better in Turin, making just two league starts and giving away more penalties than he has provided goal contributions.
Of course, there is time for both to turn things around, but they'd also be the perfect makeweight for each other: Luiz proved at Aston Villa that he's an excellent deep-lying midfielder who could drastically improve United in that position, while Zirkzee could return to a happy hunting ground in Serie A and perhaps help the Old Lady score goals.
Stewart Robson and Mark Ogden debate whether Joshua Zirkzee is good enough following his first-half substitution vs. Newcastle.
DF Milan Skriniar to Real Madrid
MF/FW Dani Ceballos to Paris Saint-Germain
Real Madrid have been patching up their defensive line for well over a year due to injuries: centre-back. David Alaba is about to return but he's been out for 13 months so it might be wise to take it easy with him, while Éder Militão has sustained the second ACL injury of his career.
All that has led to a revolving door next to Antonio Rüdiger at centre-back, with midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni deputising at times and 21-year-old academy star Raúl Asencio rising to the call too. It has thrown everything off, and if Madrid are to achieve their aims in the second half of the season, they need to find a solution.
Škriniar, a hugely experienced centre-back who has won titles with Inter Milan and PSG, is perfect. The 29-year-old is well down the pecking order in Paris and is the sort of player who wouldn't be fazed by the pressure of playing for Los Blancos.
In return, Madrid could offer Ceballos. Try as he might, he has not been able to imprint himself on the Madrid midfield but would thrive under Luis Enrique at PSG and give them the depth and flexibility to move on Fabián Ruiz, as has often been suggested since he starred at Euro 2024.
DF Rayan Aït-Nouri to Manchester United
DF Tyrell Malacia (plus cash) to Wolverhampton Wanderers
We've saved our most outlandish for last.
Despite playing for a poor, embattled side, Aït-Nouri has been a standout at left wing-back for Wolves for a long time. He is exactly the type of marauding, energetic, attacking presence that Amorim is crying out for at Man United, as for now he's largely making do with Diogo Dalot playing on the wrong side.
You might think Wolves would be mad to let go of such a key player in the midst of a relegation dogfight, but then again, there's been no stop to the talent drain out of the club over the last 18 months; from Rúben Neves and Matheus Nunes to Max Kilman and Pedro Neto, they've moved on most of their top talent, leading fans to call for new ownership who are willing to invest in the squad.
United likely can't afford to sign Aït-Nouri outright (at around 60m) but could lower the fee by offering players in exchange. Malacia, who had a torrid time with injury in 2024 and could use a full reset, would slot straight in on the left and ensure Wolves aren't left short in that area.
Smith, Labuschagne, Khawaja on BBL restrictions; bowlers and Head ruled out
While Smith, Labuschagne and Khawaja will be restricted in their appearances, Alex Carey, Sam Konstas, Beau Webster, Mitchell Marsh and Jhye Richardson have all been cleared to play in the remainder of the BBL.
Head, along with Scott Boland, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc will not play any part in the BBL season despite all being contracted.
Australia are likely to announce a 16-man touring party for two Tests in Sri Lanka in the coming days and the squad is set to depart for the UAE for a pre-tour camp on January 19 or 20 meaning none of the touring party will be available for the BBL finals series which runs from January 21-27.
It remains to be seen whether all of the squad members from the Sydney Test against India are taken to Sri Lanka, with Josh Inglis, Peter Handscomb, Todd Murphy and Matthew Kuhnemann all coming into the mix. Glenn Maxwell is also a chance to head to Sri Lanka but with Australia already securing a spot in the World Test Championship, the need for his subcontinental experience has diminished and there is a chance the selectors might look towards the 2027 tour of India with how they shape the squad.
Smith will miss Sydney Sixers clash with Melbourne Stars at the MCG on Thursday but is set to be available to play against Perth Scorches at the SCG on Saturday, with Marsh and Richardson also set to feature after they were included in Scorchers squad to face Renegades at home on Tuesday night.
Smith will then be available to play against Adelaide Strikers on January 15 and Sydney Thunder on January 17, where Konstas will also play. Despite the fifth Test finishing a few days ago, Konstas is set to play for Thunder against Hobart Hurricanes in Sydney tomorrow night and in Thunder's last four games.
Khawaja and Labuschagne will only be made available for Brisbane Heat's home clash with Hurricanes on January 16 after having 10 days off. They will not be made available for Heat's last clash in Melbourne against Renegades on January 18 given they will likely head overseas the next day.
Curiously, Carey has been made available for Adelaide Strikers' last three matches, including a match in Perth on January 18. Webster is supposedly available for Stars on January 19 at this stage. It is understood that those players could make a staggered departure to the UAE in order to play in those BBL games if required.
Head is contracted to Strikers but spoke of his need for a rest in the immediate aftermath of the Sydney Test and will not play any of those matches. Head also has an IPL contract and looks set for a near non-stop touring schedule from Sri Lanka onwards with trips to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, India for the IPL, England for the WTC final and the Caribbean for three Tests and some white-ball matches set to keep him on the road until July.
Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins are staring at a similar schedule in the face although Cummins is likely to miss both Sri Lanka Tests for the birth of his second child while Hazlewood might be ruled out due to a calf injury.
Lyon has been rested from the BBL despite a very light workload during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. But at 37, having had a major calf injury in 2023, he is being managed ahead of two Tests in Galle where he looks likely to be Australia's most relied-upon bowler.
CA's high-performance team and the BBL have long been discussing the availability of the Test stars during this short window between the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the Sri Lanka tour, with the BBL keen to have all players available for as many games as possible while the national selectors, coaches and medical staff were very keen to have as many of their stars rest during this precious window without international cricket. CA's head of National Teams Ben Oliver said the decision on each player's BBL availability had been made based on each individual program.
"A five-Test match series is gruelling, and this was amplified by the intensity of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy," Oliver said. "The players and staff deserve great credit for their preparation and management which has enabled sustained performance through what is a full international schedule.
"We have worked with each player to form individualised plans which will best support recovery from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and preparation for upcoming international commitments including the tour of Sri Lanka and ICC Champions Trophy. Wherever possible, this includes players representing their clubs in the ongoing BBL season over the coming fortnight."
BBL general manager Alistair Dobson was pleased to get some of the Test stars playing in the competition over the next fortnight.
"We are delighted to have number of Australian Test players entering the competition from tonight off the back of their historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy victory, and thank them for their commitment to the BBL," Dobson said.
Alex Malcolm is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo
ECB rejects calls for England to boycott Afghanistan at Champions Trophy
Richard Gould, the ECB's chief executive, has rejected calls from a group of British politicians for England to boycott their upcoming Champions Trophy clash with Afghanistan in February, saying that the Taliban regime's clampdown on women's rights is a matter that requires a "co-ordinated, ICC-led, response" rather than unilateral action from individual countries.
England are due to face Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26 in their second match of the tournament, and the ECB is under pressure to take action after receiving a letter from the Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, signed by a cross-party group of more than 160 politicians, including Jeremy Corbyn, Lord Kinnock and Nigel Farage.
"We strongly urge the England men's team players and officials to speak out against the horrific treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban," the letter, addressed to Gould, continued.
"We also urge the ECB to consider a boycott of the upcoming match against Afghanistan to send a clear signal that such grotesque abuses will not be tolerated. We must stand against sex apartheid and we implore the ECB to deliver a firm message of solidarity and hope to Afghan women and girls that their suffering has not been overlooked."
The situation echoes the dilemma that England's cricketers faced at the 2003 World Cup, when Nasser Hussain's team were urged to boycott their group-stage match with Zimbabwe, then led by Robert Mugabe - a decision that was ultimately left to the players, and resulted in a points forfeiture that scuppered their qualification for the tournament's latter stages.
Gould's response to Antoniazzi confirmed that the ECB has no intention of engaging in a bilateral series with Afghanistan while the Taliban regime is in power, but insisted that their participation at ICC events was a matter for the governing body as a whole, and not for individual members.
"The ECB strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime," Gould wrote. "The ICC constitution mandates that all member nations are committed to the growth and development of women's cricket. In line with this commitment, the ECB has maintained its position of not scheduling any bilateral cricket matches against Afghanistan," he continued.
"While there has not been a consensus on further international action within the ICC, the ECB will continue to actively advocate for such measures. A coordinated, ICC-wide approach would be significantly more impactful than unilateral actions by individual members.
"We acknowledge and respect the diverse perspectives on this global issue," Gould added. "We understand the concerns raised by those who believe a boycott of men's cricket could inadvertently support the Taliban's efforts to suppress freedoms and isolate Afghan society.
"It's crucial to recognise the importance of cricket as a source of hope and positivity for many Afghans, including those displaced from the country. The ECB is committed to finding a solution that upholds the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan while also considering the broader impact on the Afghan people.
"We will continue to engage in constructive dialogue with the UK government, other stakeholders, the ICC, and other international cricket boards to explore all possible avenues for meaningful change."
Will shows the way: All-round Sutherland keeps Renegades alive
Melbourne Renegades 150 for 6 (Sutherland 70, Rogers 49*, Morris 2-21, Behrendorff 2-22) beat Perth Scorchers 147 for 8 (Agar 51*, Hardie 34, Zampa 3-27, Sutherland 2-22) by four wickets
Chasing 148, Renegades were in disarray at 10 for 4 before Sutherland came to his side's rescue with 70 off 45 balls. He combined with Rogers in a remarkable 92-run partnership to inch 'Gades closer to victory.
But Sutherland fell with 12 runs needed and seven balls left to set up a grandstand finish. After the first ball of the final over by quick Matt Kelly was caught off a waist high no ball, Rogers clubbed a six off the second ball and he sealed Renegades' stunning win with a boundary off the fourth ball. He finished 49 not out off 31 balls.
It was an important win for Renegades, who join Scorchers with 3-4 records. But the win came at a cost with batter Jonathan Wells suffering a hamstring injury while fielding.
Sutherland, Rogers provide heroics after top-order collapse
Having struggled since the Pakistan white-ball series, Jake Fraser-McGurk moved down a spot but it did not do the trick after he fell in ugly fashion for a golden duck. He tried to slice a short delivery from Behrendorff but could only edge behind where Finn Allen took a sharp catch high to his right with the gloves.
Jacob Bethell and Laurie Evans, who became a Scorchers cult hero last season, also couldn't handle the pressure as Renegades only just passed the lowest ever score in a powerplay. Sutherland and Marcus Harris, almost batting in red-ball cricket mode, were forced to grind it out.
Harris fell just before drinks, but Sutherland had found his rhythm and took a liking to the older ball. He found a willing partner in Rogers, who was also adventurous to spark a remarkable revival.
Sutherland had a reprieve on 40 when substitute fielder Andrew Tye dropped a chance on the deep midwicket boundary. He rolled to his half-century off 31 balls and looked set to get them home.
He wasn't there at the end, but Rogers stepped up at the death.
Scorchers pace attack rampant early before falling off
After Agar's momentum-shifting knock, Scorchers felt rejuvenated and safe in the knowledge that they have defended similar scores over the years. Behrendorff has often ignited those famous wins and he did so again with a blistering opening spell.
But Scorchers' quicks were rattled by Sutherland and struggled for the second straight game at the death overs as their finals hopes took a hit. Kelly was the quick targeted by Renegades and he struggled to deliver in the final over.
Renegades bowl superbly until the death
After electing to bowl, Renegades attack looked set for a tough time with in-form opener Allen going berserk early. Rogers erred by bowling too short, but quickly adjusted and superbly attacked the stumps with the ball moving off the seam.
Zampa removed Nick Hobson with a brilliant googly, but mostly used subtle variations to good effect. Renegades almost submitted a near flawless bowling performance before a tardy effort at the death almost proved fatal.
Marsh fails, Agar provides late spark
Marsh's first BBL game in three years forced a reshuffle of Scorchers' batting order with Aaron Hardie elevated to open after taking his place having tweaked his abdomen against Sydney Thunder.
After brief fireworks from Allen, Marsh arrived in the third over and received a thunderous ovation from the 31,795 crowd. There had been much anticipation over the hometown hero's return with Marsh splashed all over the local paper's back page.
A pumped-up Marsh skipped to the crease and probably glad that he did not have to face tormentor Jasprit Bumrah. But Sutherland executed an inswinging delivery that would have earned Bumrah's nod of approval as he trapped Marsh plumb lbw.
After a delayed start to the season due to a quad strain, Hardie has struggled as a specialist batter and his woes continued. Mistimed shots left him frustrated before he fell on the first ball of the power surge after a thick outside edge flew straight to short third.
Scorchers were in big trouble before Agar, returning from back spasms, produced clean hitting marked by several huge blows down the ground.
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth
Pakistan docked five WTC points for slow over rate during Cape Town Test
Source: Chargers plan to add depth with RB Elliott
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Chargers plan to sign running back Ezekiel Elliott to their practice squad Tuesday pending a physical, a source confirmed to ESPN.
The Dallas Cowboys waived Elliott earlier this month, a move that Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said was "out of respect and appreciation for Zeke and wanting to provide him with an opportunity to pursue any potential playoff participation possible." The Cowboys drafted Elliott in 2016 and he is the team's No. 3 all-time leading rusher.
This season in 15 games, the 29-year-old Elliott had just 74 carries for 226 yards with a 3.1-yard-per-carry average, all career lows. Dallas made Elliott inactive for the team's Nov. 3 game against the Atlanta Falcons for missing meetings.
Chargers running back Gus Edwards hasn't played since the Chargers' Week 16 win over the Denver Broncos. In that game, Edwards injured his ankle and then aggravated it at practice. Edwards was on injured reserve earlier this season because of a different ankle injury. The move to sign Elliott probably means the Chargers are hopeful he can be insurance in case Edwards isn't healthy for Saturday's wild-card matchup against the Houston Texans. Elliott will have three days of practice in preparation for Saturday.
The move probably won't change much for L.A.'s lead running back, J.K. Dobbins, who has a career-high 1,058 yards from scrimmage this season. But running backs Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins could see their workloads reduced.
Donovan: Bulls focused on 'playing,' not draft slot
CHICAGO -- Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan said the team's first-round draft pick hasn't been a part of his conversations with the front office and ownership ahead of next month's NBA trade deadline.
Chicago has won four of five after Monday night's 114-110 victory over San Antonio, leaving the Bulls with a 17-19 record. Chicago owes its first-round selection in the 2025 draft to San Antonio as part of the 2021 DeMar DeRozan trade, but the pick is top-10 protected.
"No one's saying to me, hey, listen, wait a second with this draft pick right now, we need to make sure, it's been always the integrity of competition and playing," Donovan said, "and I appreciate that."
Though Donovan said the pick hasn't been part of his conversations with the team, he also acknowledged the location of the organization in the NBA hierarchy. The Bulls went 40-42 during the 2022-23 season and 39-43 last season.
"We don't want to be just stuck in the middle. ... Absolutely. I don't think there's any question about that," Donovan said.
"I think the building out part that we got to look at is the totality of our entire team where you're identifying guys that are going to help us maybe get out of the middle and move forward. And I do think that we do have guys on our team that, to me, emulate or model a competitiveness that I like and appreciate."
The Bulls were without Ayo Dosunmu for the sixth straight game Monday night because of a strained right calf. Dosunmu, who turns 25 on Jan. 17, is averaging 12.6 points and 4.8 assists in his fourth NBA season.
Dosunmu is doing some rehab work, Donovan said, but he has experienced some soreness when he tries run hard straight ahead.
"I think with where it is, in the lower part of his calf, they're just going to be careful," Donovan said.
Giannis gets stitches, returns as Bucks beat Raps
TORONTO -- Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo needed three stitches to close a cut near the base of his right pinkie against the Toronto Raptors on Monday night but returned to the game to finish his fourth triple-double of the season.
Antetokounmpo banged his finger on the rim while trying to chase down RJ Barrett's fast-break dunk late in the second quarter. He finished with 11 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds in a 128-104 road win over the struggling Raptors.
"I'm fine," Antetokounmpo said afterward. "My finger is kind of numb, but I'm fine. I played the second half. It's just stitches. I'm not going to overthink it."
Antetokounmpo is the NBA's leading scorer at 31.6 points per game.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers said the cut bothered Antetokounmpo, but not enough for him to leave the game.
"He didn't want to come out because he felt like he could finish, but it kept bleeding," Rivers said. "He definitely was effective, but you could see it really hurt his ballhandling a little bit."
Antetokounmpo played just over 18 minutes in the first half and then sat out the fourth quarter after playing all but 34 seconds in the third.
Rivers said he wasn't concerned about Antetokounmpo's status for Wednesday's home game against the San Antonio Spurs.
"I think he's good," Rivers said.
Beal after 25 off bench: Suns mum on trade talk
PHILADELPHIA -- Bradley Beal made the most of an unfamiliar role Monday, scoring 25 points in his first game off the bench in nine years.
Beal scored 20 points in the second half as Phoenix overcame an early 12-point deficit to snap a four-game losing streak with a 109-99 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Beal's move to the bench sparked rumors that the guard could be on the trade block, though a no-trade clause in his contract means he'd have to sign off on any deal.
When asked if his move to the bench had something to do with the trade rumors, Beal says he has not heard anything from the team.
"If so, I need to be addressed because I hold the cards," he told reporters after Monday's game. "Until I'm addressed and somebody says something different, then I'll be a Sun."
Beal, a 13-year veteran and three-time All-Star, also said he accepts the change coach Mike Budenholzer made in the lineup but made it clear he considers himself a starter in the NBA.
"Coach made his decision. Live with it," he told the AZCentral.com. "It's kind of twofold. I'm a starter in the league. I firmly believe that. No disrespect to anybody, but I'm a starter. ... Coach made a decision. I'm not going to sit there and argue with him. I'm not going to sit here and be a distraction."
Beal last came off the bench during the 2015-16 season while returning from an injury with the Washington Wizards.
Budenholzer also moved Jusuf Nurkic, who was returning from a three-game suspension for his role in a fight against Dallas, into a reserve role and said before the game both players handled the news well.
"I feel like we needed to make a change," Budenholzer said. "Throughout a 48-minute game, you got to figure out your best combinations, your best ways to try to have success. They're two important players to us, two very good players for us. We just felt like we needed to make a change.
"They're pros. I talked to each of them individually. They want what's best for the team. I have a lot of respect for them and an appreciation for them."
Beal and Nurkic (five points, seven rebounds) gave the Suns' bench a huge boost as the Phoenix reserves outscored Philadelphia's bench 54-7. It was the second-most points the Suns' bench has scored in a game over the past two seasons, according to ESPN Research.
"What he was able to do tonight really put us in a great spot, made a bunch of plays for himself, bunch of plays for his teammates," Budenholzer said of Beal. "He's been a pro. He was there for us tonight in a big way."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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