Last Friday, the Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans met for the third time this season in what has been an entertaining matchup between two of the most outspoken centers in the game today, Jusuf Nurkic and DeMarcus Cousins. Given how vocal they have been, it was expected to be another very competitive meeting, which did not disappoint. Both teams played at a high level and the Bosnian international even had some choice words to say to his counterpart during his post-game interview.
Nurkic called out Cousins for flopping continuously during the game. He then added that he thinks he is not tough, and that there's a reason why he has not made the playoffs yet in his NBA career.
Article Continues Below“I mean, he’s not that tough … [He] looks like first team flopping … he’s never been to the playoffs—talking for no reason.”
"$#!t, he's not that tough…looks like first team flopping… he's never been to the playoffs…" @bosnianbeast27 has strong words for @boogiecousins #ripcity pic.twitter.com/BAYPw9Yuky
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) January 13, 2018
The Blazers center's comments has definitely turned their last matchup of the season on March 27 as a must-watch for basketball fans. While both teams are currently battling for a playoff spot, there will be more at stake in two months time and it could be that they are the ones who'll figure in a dog fight for a postseason appearance.
Should that be the case, Nurkic and Cousins are expected to be fired up to play against each other and could be the start of a rivalry not just between their teams, but also the two of them. Fans will surely have their eyes on the starting centers once they share the court again, and it will be interesting to see how hyped they will be by then.