Report: Suns benching Beal, Nurkic amid losing streak, locker-room tension

Major changes are coming to the Phoenix Suns starting lineup.

Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic are set to be benched in favour of rookie Ryan Dunn and veteran Mason Plumlee, NBA insider Chris Haynes reported on Monday.

Haynes added that there is "tension" in the Suns' locker room as the team is mired in a four-game losing streak.

"I'm told certain players are uncertain of their roles and frustrated with how they're being used," Haynes said.

Under first-year head coach Mike Budenholzer, the Suns currently sit outside of the playoff picture at 12th in the Western Conference with a 15-18 record.

Phoenix's most recent loss was an 18-point drubbing at the hands of the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.

The move to send Beal and Nurkic — a pair of veterans acquired in franchise-altering trades two off-seasons ago — to the bench could be a significant one.

Both players were expected to help stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker lead the Suns on long playoff runs, but the team fell in the first round last season.

Beal's average of 17.8 points per game is his lowest since the 2015-16 season. He's also recording just 3.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists, both of which are significant drops from his career norms.

Dunn, the Virginia product, could represent a defensive upgrade at guard over Beal. The rookie has played 29 contests this season, averaging 6.5 points per game.

Nurkic, 30, is shooting 45.2 per cent from the field — five ticks below his career rate — while scoring 8.8 points per game, pulling down 9.5 rebounds and dishing 1.9 assists.

Plumlee, a fellow veteran, has already started 10 games this season and is shooting 58 per cent from the field.

The changes are expected to take place for Monday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Haynes added.