The Phoenix Suns have seen multiple players sustain various injuries since preseason began, and one of its key starters is set to be sidelined for at least a week.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Suns center Jusuf Nurkić, who missed a majority of the preseason with a finger injury and has dealt with left ankle soreness in the regular season, has now suffered a right thigh contusion and will miss extended time, according to a press release from the team.
“Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic will be out with a right thigh contusion. He will be re-evaluated in one week,” the release said.
Nurkić sat out Saturday when Phoenix beat the Golden State Warriors 113-105. So far this season, the Bosnian has missed two other games against the Utah Jazz and Orlando Magic because of injuries.
In his second year in the Valley, the 7-footer is averaging 8.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.3 turnovers through 16 games. Though he has been inconsistent in terms of effectiveness and productivity from game to game, he has recorded six double-doubles so far.
With Nurkić inactive moving forward, Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer will continue to rotate Mason Plumlee and rookie Oso Ighodaro at the center position.
Impressing since he was drafted with the No. 40 overall pick this year, the Chandler native Ighodaro is contributing with 4.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 14 games (one start), playing 16.3 minutes each contest. For the grizzled veteran Plumlee, he is averaging 4.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in 18 games since signing in free agency this past offseason.
When Nurkić has been sidelined, Plumlee has started and Ighodaro has come off the bench but the Suns also have constructed a lineup with both on the court at the same time in a two-center system. Against the Magic on Nov. 18 when Nurkić, Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant were all injured, Budenholzer tried to match the opposition’s size with this setup. The Suns lost 109-99.
The Suns return to action on Tuesday when they face Chris Paul and the San Antonio Spurs in an NBA Cup battle.
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers the Phoenix Mercury, Suns and ASU Athletics for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
