Blue Devil Country

Veteran Duke Basketball Pro Still Going Strong for NBA Title Contender

Duke basketball champ Mason Plumlee is back from injury and was a double-double contributor in the streaking Clippers' latest win.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
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Los Angeles Clippers center Mason Plumlee, the oldest active NBA Blue Devil by a few months over a fellow 33-year-old former Duke basketball player in Dallas Mavericks guard Seth Curry, missed dozens of games this season with a left knee MCL sprain.

He sat out most of November and all of December. But Plumlee, in his 11th NBA season since getting drafted No. 22 overall following his four-year college campaign in Durham, has been working his way back to full strength, seeing action in seven of the team's past 10 outings this month.

And across the sizzling Clippers' current four-game winning streak, he's filled in for the injured Ivica Zubac (calf) as Los Angeles' starting big man.

In Friday night's 127-107 road victory over the Toronto Raptors, whose starting lineup included two NBA Blue Devils in guards RJ Barrett and Gary Trent Jr., Mason Plumlee recorded his first double-double of the season via 12 points and 12 rebounds in his 25 minutes on the floor. He added three assists while shooting 6-for-12 from the field.

Meanwhile, Barrett and Trent combined for 35 points, seven boards, and seven dimes.

Through Plumlee's 13 games in his first full season with the Clippers, the 2010 Duke basketball national champion is averaging 6.2 points and 5.2 rebounds.

That's a big drop from his nearly double-double average (12.7 points, 9.7 rebounds) between the 56 games he played for the 2022-23 Charlotte Hornets before getting dealt to Los Angeles. However, it's worth noting he received single-digit minutes in his first few games back, dinging his stats considerably due to his limited appearances.

Plumlee and the Clippers (29-14), No. 3 in the Western Conference standings, remain away from home for their next six contests, all against Eastern Conference teams. They face the East-leading Boston Celtics (league-best 35-10) and their top-shelf NBA Blue Devil, now-five-time All-Star forward Jayson Tatum, at 7 p.m. ET Saturday.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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