Is Jusuf Nurkic Playing Tonight? Suns Injury Report Drops In Must-Win Game vs Clippers

The Phoenix Suns are soon set to host the Los Angeles Clippers on their home turf in Arizona. The Suns have maintained a good record during this final stage of the regular season by winning 7 of their last 10 games. However, with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Sacramento Kings right on their tails, a single loss could drop the franchise down a few seeds and disqualify them from the upcoming playoffs. Therefore, the team will be looking to utilize the full strength of their offensive roster during this must-win game. With team center Jusuf Nurkic having recently developed an ankle injury, however, his availability remains a matter of concern.

A few hours ago, AZ Central reporter Duane Rankin took to his official X account to highlight details from the Injury Report released by the Suns before their matchup. He stated that Jusuf Nurkic has been listed as ‘QUESTIONABLE’ on the report, while Damion Lee continues to be in the ‘OUT’ category. While replying to a remark in the comments sections, Rankin further highlighted that “(Frank) Vogel recently said they don’t expect Lee in the regular season, hopeful to have him available for playoffs”.

Jusuf Nurkic had earlier sprained his ankle back in March during a game against the San Antonio Spurs. While the injury caused him to exit the middle of the game and prevented him from playing during the next clash against the Denver Nuggets, the 29-year-old soon returned after that. While no in-game injury was reported during the Suns’ latest faceoff against the Pelicans, the same ankle sprain seems to have now made a return and placed the player back on the Injury Report.

With the odds of making an appearance at the Footprint Center currently standing at 50/50 for their sixth-highest average scorer, the Suns will require a backup plan. According to ‘NumberFire’, if Nurkic’s injury prevents him from playing during the Clippers clash, then the team’s backup center Drew Eubanks could fill in his position in the starting five.

The Suns lineup does not seem to be fully healthy, and the same can be said about their rivals as well. According to the Injury Report released by the LA Clippers, shooting guard Joshua Primo continues to be in the ‘OUT’ category, while German center Daniel Theis has been listed as ‘questionable’. The unfortunate news continues for the team as one of their lead scorers, Kawhi Leonard, is set to miss his fifth consecutive game due to his knee injury.

How has Jusuf Nurkic been performing against the LA Clippers?

During his ongoing NBA career, Jusuf Nurkic has faced off against the LA Clippers in almost 24 games. After being traded to the Suns just before the commencement of the current season, the player met the LA team only 2 times. There is a wide performance gap when comparing his time before and after joining Kevin Durant’s roster.

In his first 22 games, the player had managed to secure a noteworthy average of 13.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. After becoming a member of the Suns, however, the same average dropped 8.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. Such a stat exists even though Jusuf Nurkic is the primary center for his team. During their last clash back in January 2024, the Clippers had humiliated their rivals by winning the game through a score of 138-111. While playing for 21 minutes, Nurkic could only contribute 8 points to the overall total. His field goals stood at 3-8, while his three-pointers at 1-2.

Do you believe that the Suns can secure a win without a key member of their offensive roster on their side? Let us know in the comments down below.

READ MORE: “Sh*t’s Gotta Change”: Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkic, and the Suns Set #1 Priority After Avoidable Loss vs OKC