Entering Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, Duke alum Mason Plumlee had played just four games, totaling 12 minutes. Behind both Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet on the depth chart, Plumlee has been relegated to garbage-time minutes only.
That was the case again Tuesday night, as Plumlee entered the contest with two minutes left in the fourth quarter with the Spurs down 14. Very soon after, the former NCAA champion with Duke was whistled for a hard foul on his schoolmate, Jared McCain, putting an elbow through his back. McCain looked up at the big man with confusion, but after a small scuffle, which prompted Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault to replace all of his starters, the game continued as usual. Neither team addressed the foul after the game.
