Suns Starter Fined for Flopping vs Kings
Jusuf Nurkic is out a couple grand.
PHOENIX -- The NBA has fined Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic $2,000 for flopping against the Sacramento Kings on Friday.
The play came with over five minutes gone in the first quarter when Kings guard De'Aaron Fox attempted to steal a pass heading Nurkic's way. Fox apparently made contact with Nurkic, prompting the ball loose and sending Nurkic to the floor.
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Nurkic wasn't a fan of the non-call, nor the fine:
Nurkic finished the game with ten points and ten rebounds, marking double-digit boards in the last six games he's played in. The Suns ultimately won 108-107 and kept their hopes of making the postseason alive - Phoenix will need a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday paired with a New Orleans Pelicans loss.
After the win, Suns coach Frank Vogel gave Nurkic a nice shoutout after calling the win "gutsy":
“Gutsy win. Things weren’t going right for us offensively. We were shooting the ball well but still careless with the basketball, way too many turnovers. We have to improve our passing if we’re going to go on a deep playoff run. But our defense held us. It held us in this game, we kept getting stops," said Vogel.
"In particular, Bradley Beal was the star of the game defensively. Nurk throughout the game battling Sabonis and taking big shoulder contact. I keep saying he’s the best big shoulder defender in the league and he showed it tonight battling Sabonis."
