The NBA had a heavy slate of games on today’s docket, including several quality contests. One of those “good matchups” pitted the Oklahoma City Thunder versus the Phoenix Suns. Phoenix fell to 4-6 on the season after being handed a second consecutive loss (111-99) by OKC on Sunday. Part of the reason that the Suns are struggling is that they have yet to have a full complement of players this season. That was the case once again against the Thunder as Devin Booker and Eric Gordon joined Damion Lee, who is out indefinitely, on the sidelines.
Suns’ coach Frank Vogel said Gordon “experienced left shoulder soreness after Friday’s loss to Los Angeles.”
Gordon, a key member of the Suns’ rotation with all their injuries, has had his up-and-downs shooting the ball in the early going. But the 34-year-old veteran is fourth on the team in scoring (13.0) and tied for fifth in assists. Officially, Gordon is day-to-day.
While Vogel said he “hopes [Gordon’s injury] is not serious,” he did provide some good news on Booker’s injury.
“[Booker is] increasing his work on the floor with his shooting, the intensity, speed, and intensity of it, but still not ready yet,” Vogel told Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic.
Vogel added that Booker, who has missed five straight games, could return at some point this week.
Booker has been fantastic in both games he has appeared in this year. He poured in 32 points in the season-opening win over Golden State and then produced a 31-point, 13-assist double-double in his other appearance. The Suns are 14-21 without Booker since the start of the 2022-23 season, including 3-4 this season.
Meanwhile, Bradley Beal played in his third straight game on Sunday, though he was once again on a minutes restriction. Beal struggled with his shot for the second time this season as he finished with 15 points on 6 of 18 shooting, including 0 of 5 from the 3-point line, against the Thunder. Beal did grab eight rebounds and dole out five assists, but he also committed five turnovers.
Phoenix has three games upcoming this week. The Suns conclude their three-game homestand versus Minnesota on Wednesday. The Suns then play a pair of contests in Utah (Friday and Sunday).
Mason Plumlee To Be Re-assessed In Four Weeks
Los Angeles Clippers reserve center Mason Plumlee is set to be reassessed in four weeks as he continues to recover from an MCL sprain, per Mark Medina of The Sporting Tribune.
Plumlee is expected to be sidelined for multiple months, but the team will know more next month. He suffered the injury last Monday when Knicks forward Julius Randle hit his knee while diving for a ball. Plumlee couldn’t put any weight on the knee and had to be helped off the court.
Plumlee was playing decently well behind starter Ivica Zubac before going down. The 33-year-old averaged 5.0 points on 63.2% shooting from the field and 5.5 rebounds in 17 minutes a night. The Clippers, who are 3-3 in games Plumlee played in, are winless since the big man went down, as they are very thin up front. LA’s losing streak extended to five straight with their 105-101 setback to Memphis today. P.J. Tucker is very undersized, and Moussa Diabate has shared time at the five with the second unit over the last two contests.
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