{"id":58552,"date":"2023-11-12T22:50:50","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T03:50:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=58552"},"modified":"2026-02-28T15:11:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T20:11:09","slug":"nba-rumors-devin-booker-returning-soon-mason-plumlee-injury-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/11\/12\/nba-rumors-devin-booker-returning-soon-mason-plumlee-injury-update\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Rumors: Devin Booker Returning Soon, Mason Plumlee Injury Update"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The\u00a0 NBA had a heavy slate of games on today&#8217;s docket, including several quality contests. One of those &#8220;good matchups&#8221; 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.\u00a0 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bookede01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.hoopsrumors.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-11-12_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Devin Booker<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/gordoer01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Eric Gordon<\/strong><\/a> joined<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/leeda03.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong> Damion Lee<\/strong><\/a>, who is out indefinitely, on the sidelines.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker (calf) to miss fifth straight game, Bradley Beal (back) available, Eric Gordon (shoulder) out <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Suns?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#Suns<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Thunderup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#Thunderup<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jipQH3rUPU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/jipQH3rUPU<\/a> via <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/azcentral?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@azcentral<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DuaneRankin\/status\/1723845662767546569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 12, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>NBA Rumors: Devin Booker Returning Soon, Mason Plumlee Injury Update<\/h2>\n<p>Suns&#8217; coach <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/06\/04\/suns-hire-recent-nba-champion-next-head-coach\/\" target=\"_self\">Frank Vogel<\/a> said Gordon &#8220;experienced left shoulder soreness after Friday&#8217;s loss to Los Angeles.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Phoenix Suns coach Frank Vogel said Eric Gordon experienced left shoulder soreness after Friday&#39;s loss to Los Angeles.<\/p>\n<p>Gordon scored 13 points off the bench, going 3-of-4 from 3.<\/p>\n<p>He hopes it&#39;s not too serious. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Suns?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#Suns<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ThunderUp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#ThunderUp<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Y2obkY7wbf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/Y2obkY7wbf<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/uvl9vPmOPV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/uvl9vPmOPV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DuaneRankin\/status\/1723846881699328480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 12, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Gordon, a key member of the Suns&#8217; 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.\u00a0 Officially, Gordon is day-to-day.<\/p>\n<p>While Vogel said he &#8220;hopes [Gordon&#8217;s injury] is not serious,&#8221; he did provide some good news on Booker&#8217;s injury.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201c[Booker is] increasing his work on the floor with his shooting, the intensity, speed, and intensity of it, but still not ready yet,\u201d Vogel told <a href=\"https:\/\/subscribe.azcentral.com\/restricted?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fnba%2Fsuns%2F2023%2F11%2F11%2Fanother-fourth-quarter-erosion-dooms-phoenix-suns-in-second-loss-to-l-a-lakers%2F71545039007%2F&amp;sltsgmt=TBP_initially_free_24_then_premium_control_A&amp;gps-source=CPROADBLOCKDH\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">&quot;In all games, it would be better with Devin Booker out there.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Frank Vogel on Devin Booker as he&#39;ll miss his 5th straight game with a right calf strain. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Suns?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#Suns<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QXwzFhErw0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/QXwzFhErw0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DuaneRankin\/status\/1723845222063370453?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 12, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Vogel added that Booker, who has missed five straight games, could return at some point this week.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bealbr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Bradley Beal<\/strong><\/a> 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.<\/p>\n<p>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).<\/p>\n<h3>Mason Plumlee To Be Re-assessed In Four Weeks<\/h3>\n<p>Los Angeles Clippers reserve center <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/plumlma01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.hoopsrumors.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-11-07_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Mason Plumlee<\/strong> <\/a>is set to be reassessed in four weeks as he continues to recover from an\u00a0MCL sprain, per Mark Medina of The Sporting Tribune.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Clippers say Mason Plumlee will be reevaluated in four weeks<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MarkG_Medina\/status\/1723773007129100645?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 12, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/plumlma01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.hoopsrumors.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-11-07_bbr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Julius Randle<\/strong><\/a> hit his knee while diving for a ball. Plumlee couldn\u2019t put any weight on the knee and had to be helped off the court.<\/p>\n<p>Plumlee was playing decently well behind starter <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/z\/zubaciv01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Ivica Zubac<\/strong><\/a> 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/11\/10\/los-angeles-clippers-rumors-clips-looking-veteran-center-replace-mason-plumlee\/\" target=\"_self\">very thin up front<\/a>. LA&#8217;s losing streak extended to five straight with their 105-101 setback to Memphis today. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tuckepj01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>P.J. Tucker<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is very undersized, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/diabamo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Moussa Diabate<\/strong><\/a> has shared time at the five with the second unit over the last two contests.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The\u00a0 NBA had a heavy slate of games on today&#8217;s docket, including several quality contests. One of those &#8220;good matchups&#8221; 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.\u00a0 Part of the reason that the Suns [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3146,"featured_media":58554,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,27,62,28],"tags":[311,352,446,421],"class_list":["post-58552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-clippers","category-nba","category-suns","tag-bradley-beal","tag-devin-booker","tag-eric-gordon","tag-mason-plumlee"],"modified_by":"Michael Kovacs, ADMIN","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58552","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3146"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58552"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58552\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":179374,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58552\/revisions\/179374"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58554"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}