One of the Portland Trail Blazers‘ key spark plugs could be sorely missed throughout the first round of the NBA playoffs, as Jusuf Nurkic‘s return from a nondisplaced right leg fracture is still uncertain, according to a report from the Associated Press.

The midseason acquisition has fit right into the starting lineup and given Rip City that extra toughness on the glass, propelling the team to an eighth seed in the West despite missing the last seven games of the season with his injury.

“I feel better and I've made good progress, but we still haven't decided if I'm going to play,” Nurkic said.

The Bosnian international was traded to Portland on Feb. 12 after falling out of favor with head coach Mike Malone of the Denver Nuggets — turning his season around with averages of 15.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks through 20 games with the Blazers.

Portland went 18-8 after the All-Star break and finished with a 41-41 win-loss record to vie for the last playoff bid.

Throughout his short stint with the team, Nurkic has jelled well with the backcourt tandem of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, recording a 14-5 record when the three are in the starting lineup.

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The 7-footer remains eager to rejoin his teammates in their quest for getting to the second round and was seen taking jumpers during the team's last two regular season games.

“If it was up to me, I'd play right now,” an optimistic Nurkic said Friday.