Though he appears to be progressing well in his recovery, Portland Trail Blazers big man Jusuf Nurkic is still expected to be sidelined until after this season's All-Star break.
According to a source familiar with the situation, who spoke to the USA TODAY Sports Media Group on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter, Nurkic will be out until after the All-Star break.
Nurkic is recovering from a gruesome leg injury. The Bosnian-born center fractured his fibula and tibia on March 25 of 2019. He went through his first full practice with the Blazers on Wednesday. His teammate, Damian Lillard, noted that Jusuf “looked good” in the session, but the team is being cautious with their approach to his return.
The fact that Nurkic is on the mend is great news for the Blazers, who are currently holding a 19-26 overall record. His presence in the paint will be a welcomed addition, as the team has dealt with several frontcourt injuries this season.
In his 72 appearances with the Blazers last season, Nurkic racked up averages of 15.6 points on 50.8 percent shooting from the field, 10.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.0 steal in 27.4 minutes per outing.
The Blazers will be back in action on Thursday night, when they'll serve as hosts to the Dallas Mavericks. Tip-off inside the Moda Center is set for 10:30 p.m. ET, with TNT having live broadcast coverage.
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