The Phoenix Suns have made the final ruling of whether or not Jusuf Nurkić will be playing tonight against the New York Knicks.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Coach Mike Budenhozler told reporters pregame that the Suns starting center will be available after originally being questionable with a left ankle sprain.
#Suns coach Mike Budenholzer says Jusuf Nurkić (left ankle sprain) will play tonight against the #Knicks
— Burn City Suns ☀️ (@BurnCitySuns) November 21, 2024
Nurkić has been in and out of the lineup with his ankle injury since suffering it in Phoenix’s 114-113 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 8, missing Monday’s loss to the Orlando Magic after playing three-straight games. The big man has performed very poorly in the four games he has played with the ankle injury, shooting 3-for-23 (13.0%) overall, 1-for-12 (8.3%) from 3 and 5-for-10 (50.0%) from the free-throw line in those contests. Rookie Oso Ighodaro, who has had a career high in points in back-to-back games, and veteran Mason Plumlee have filled in well for Nurkić.
The Suns, who have a five-day break after tonight’s game, will be without Bradley Beal (left calf strain) and Kevin Durant (left calf strain) again tonight. Durant is scheduled to be re-evaluated on Saturday. Tomorrow will mark the fifth-straight game Beal misses and seventh-straight game Durant is out. Phoenix has really struggled and now lost four straight with both stars out of the lineup after Monday’s loss to Orlando.
“I think both of them are putting great work in,” Budenholzer said. “They’re both making good progress. We feel good about what they’re doing with the medical team. And a five-day break is very strange, but in this case, when you’re talking about Brad Beal, Kevin Durant, it’s maybe a chance to have them heal and recover and be available soon. Could be a blessing, a silver lining for the five days.”
Mitchell Robinson (left ankle surgery), Deuce McBride (left knee inflammation) and Precious Achiuwa (strained left hamstring) are all out for New York (8-6). The Knicks enter this matchup on a three-game win streak after two victories over the Brooklyn Nets and a 28-point blowout win against the Washington Wizards Monday.
Tonight’s game tips off shortly after 8:00 p.m. MST on ESPN.
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
