On Tuesday night at Duke Blue Devils’ home court, the Florida Gators pushed the Blue Devils to the brink — but in a gut-check moment, Duke escaped with a 67–66 victory.
The win, while celebrated, carried a worrying post-game concern: injury troubles plague two of Duke’s key young stars. According to pregame reports, fresh off a 35-point outing against Arkansas, Cameron Boozer was listed in the injury report, raising questions about his availability for the matchup. Meanwhile, sophomore big man Patrick Ngongba II — whose foot had already troubled him through his high school senior season and into college, forcing prior stints in a walking boot — is still considered a health risk by coaching staff.
Despite all that, both players still made it onto the floor Tuesday — a sign of the team’s belief in their importance. Boozer put up a game-high 29 points, including a clutch 3-pointer with just over two minutes remaining that helped break a late tie and gave Duke a fleeting edge. Ngongba, meanwhile, contributed 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 blocks — a stat line that underlined his potential impact on both ends of the court.
But “played through” doesn’t necessarily equate to “out of the woods.” The injury concerns remain lingering. For a program that already carries high expectations this season, that matters — especially given Boozer’s centrality to the offense and Ngongba’s growing role down low.
Duke’s path to victory was anything but smooth. After building a solid 36–24 halftime lead, the Blue Devils saw Florida roar back in the second half, eventually tying the game. With 35 seconds left, the Gators grabbed a temporary lead thanks to a 3-pointer from Boogie Fland. But less than a minute later, Boozer’s earlier dagger 3 and a clutch shot by guard Isaiah Evans — Evans’ only made 3-pointer of the night — would swing momentum back to Durham.
Still, a few consequential misses and near-injuries fluttered during the game, underscoring how delicate the edge was. For Duke, this win extends a perfect 9-0 start to the season.
Now, as the celebrations subside and the glow of victory fades, all eyes turn to health reports. Will Boozer recover smoothly? Can Ngongba’s foot stay steady under the pressure of a long, demanding season? The answers to those questions may well shape just how far the Blue Devils can go — even as they ride high from a hard-earned win over the Gators.
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