Los Angeles Clippers guard Bradley Beal suffered a significant hip injury during a loss Saturday against the Phoenix Suns, ending his season after only six appearances. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES — Bradley Beal never could have imagined the damage caused by one false step.
The former Washington Wizards star scrambled to his feet Saturday, then lunged awkwardly toward Grayson Allen in hopes of breaking up a transition opportunity for the Phoenix Suns. Beal, a newly minted starting guard for the Los Angeles Clippers, was a split-second too late and came up empty. The 32-year-old didn’t make contact with Allen or the ball, and he didn’t immediately go down in a heap or head to the sidelines. In fact, Beal kept playing until midway through the third quarter of a 114-103 home loss — his customary rotation as he eased his way back from offseason knee surgery.