Jusuf Nurkic out, Mason Plumee gets start for Suns against Jazz

Jusuf Nurkic will miss the Phoenix Suns’ 2024 NBA Cup group stage opener against the Utah Jazz with a left ankle injury on Tuesday.

Center Mason Plumlee is set to make his first start of the season.

The Jazz will also be without their starting center, Walker Kessler, due to hip soreness. Utah will, however, have guard Keyonte George available after he showed up on the injury report with a foot sprain.

Nurkic started but ultimately was pulled Sunday during the Suns’ loss to the Sacramento Kings. He entered the evening listed as questionable with ankle soreness.

The center grabbed seven rebounds and a steal while going 0-for-4 from the field in 15 first-half minutes before Plumlee started the second half.

Nurkic had gotten out to a rough start to the year after missing the preseason with a finger injury.

In 10 games, the big man averaged 9.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 44% from the field and 31% from 3-point land. He had come on strong with three double-double performances in a row before Sunday.

Who’s up with Jusuf Nurkic injured vs. Jazz?

Against Sacramento, Plumlee finished with six points, 11 rebounds and six assists over 26 minutes in his most active performance of the season. He was part of a defensive effort that forced six turnovers on Kings center Domantas Sabonis, who also fouled out of the game that went to overtime.

Phoenix likely turns to rookie second-round pick Oso Ighodaro against Utah, which even without Kessler boasts athletic bigs like Lauri Markkanen, John Collins and rookie Kyle Filipowski. Former Suns center Drew Eubanks is also on the roster.

Ighodaro played 10 minutes against Sacramento Sunday and scored five points to go with two boards and an assist in 10 minutes.

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