The Suns will be without their starting center for at least the next week.
The first significant injury report dropped for the Phoenix Suns this preseason. Starting center Jusuf Nurkic is out for tomorrow’s preseason opener against the Lakers.
He was diagnosed with a left middle finger injury and will be re-evaluated in one week.
Jusuf Nurkic is out for Sunday and will be reevaluated in one week due to a left middle finger injury
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) October 5, 2024
Head coach Mike Budenholzer confirmed the injury saying he was injured from scrimmaging.
Mike Budenholzer said Jusuf Nurkic hurt his finger scrimmaging, and that they’ll evaluate over the next few days.
“Certainly, probably, more opportunities for Oso [Ighodaro], which I think he’s taken advantage of. He’s getting comfortable understanding what we want to do.” pic.twitter.com/ppGhnFcKb3
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) October 5, 2024
This opens the door for more playing time for the Suns’ rookie big man, Oso Ighodaro, to shine in the Suns preseason. “Certainly, probably, more opportunities for Oso [Ighodaro], which I think he’s taken advantage of. He’s getting comfortable understanding what we want to do.”
Veterans Mason Plumlee and Frank Kaminsky will likely see a bump in minutes as well during this stretch without Nurkic.
It doesn’t sound like a serious injury, but rather a precautionary approach from the team as they prepare for the grueling 82-game season.
Phoenix opens their 2024-25 preseason against the Los Angeles Lakers tomorrow night at 6:30 pm (AZ time) in Palm Springs, California.