Insights

That’s what we came for.” pic.twitter.com/6HwYwe9XDq, “I didn’t want to play,” Nurkic said. He doesn't rely on speed and quickness as much as the other players on the list, but he has a lot more weight in his 7-foot, 280-pound frame supported by his surgically repaired leg. It may not be a 360 dunk, but a play like this requires a tremendous amount of athleticism and body control, which is surprising to see after just a handful of games following nearly 500 days without competition. 8 seed, Blazers coach Terry Stotts showed his team a clip of Nurkic diving on the ground for a loose ball, calling it a play that "decided the game." "My grandma got COVID. I already came — all those decisions to stay here, be with the team, so I think she wanted me to play. After narrowly surviving a must-win game over the Nets to clinch the No. I think people take for granted what’s going on out there in the world. "A special performance by him dealing with his grandmother passing and to be able to come out here and have that kind of effort, and be that focused on a basketball game when he had something much more important on his mind and on his heart, that just speaks volumes on his character.". With Nurkic in the lineup, that moved up to ninth during seeding games. 6-keys: media/spln/nba/reg/free/stories, at When Nurkic initially announced his grandmother’s COVID-19 diagnosis, he said that he had considered leaving the NBA bubble to be with her. “My grandma got COVID. 8 seed, took down the Memphis Grizzlies in the play-in game, then rode that momentum to an impressive 100-93 Game 1 win over the top-seeded Lakers in Tuesday's playoff opener. The Trail Blazers will take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday in Game 1 of their playoff series. Jusuf Nurkic announced on Saturday that his grandmother died. Jusuf Nurkic's time in Denver came to a rather unceremonious end in February when the Nuggets sent the big man and a first-round pick to the Trail … She’s in the hospital. It simply shows that what Nurkic is doing is not normal -- not even close. “The reason we’re here is the pandemic. "She made me play, I guess.". Wear a damn mask if you need to wear it. Less than two hours later, he played one of the best games of his career to help the Portland Trail Blazers secure a playoff spot. Nurkic has set the tone early, putting up 15 points and 17 rebounds in the first half alone in the play-in win against the Grizzlies. Portland just looks more confident with its big man back in the fold, and the way he powered through grief and shock after personal tragedy to help earn a playoff berth perfectly exemplifies his emotional impact on the team. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. Nurkic told reporters on July 31 that his grandmother was in a coma with COVID-19. section: | slug: lakers-vs-blazers-jusuf-nurkics-remarkable-recovery-from-gruesome-leg-injury-is-powering-portlands-run | sport: basketball | route: article_single.us | Carmelo Anthony's emphatic resurrection into basketball relevancy. Prior to the bubble, Nurkic hadn’t played since last March, when he suffered a gruesome compound fracture in his left leg during a game against the Brooklyn Nets. Nurkic, who had just returned to the Portland lineup after a long layoff with a leg injury, urged people to be smart about COVID-19 when he announced her illness. Covering the impact of coronavirus on the sports world. I’m glad we win and we’re in the playoffs, what we came for.”. Yahoo is part of Verizon Media. Before the hiatus, Portland was 21st in the league in rebounding percentage, per NBA.com. But he's also done all of this while dealing with the illness and consequent death of his grandmother, Hana, who he said was one of the closest people to him. Per Google translate, Nurkic’s Croatian message reads: “We are all Allah's and to Him we return.”. As you can imagine, the rehab for such an injury is long and arduous, but Nurkic stepped on the court for the first bubble game and shockingly looked as if he'd never left. Nurkic learned of his grandmother's death from COVID-19 just hours before the play-in game against the Grizzlies, and understandably considered not playing. … Please take care of yourself. Surely, Nurkic, nicknamed “The Beast” by Portland fans, an epitome of strength, is not host to such fragility. Goodwill: Kings should drop ‘interim’ title, let Dumars run things, Packers reportedly make Clark highest-paid NT in NFL history, Reds’ games vs. Pirates postponed after positive COVID test. "I think I didn't want to play," Nurkic said after his 22-point, 21-rebound performance. Then on Tuesday he became the first player since Shaquille O'Neal nearly 20 years ago to score 10 or more points and grab 10 or more rebounds in the first quarter of a playoff game. © 2004-2020 CBS Interactive. Portland won, 126-122 to secure a berth in the NBA playoffs. His teammate CJ McCollum showed him support on the court and on social media. Jusuf Nurkic: You right but u guys started that trend… Man shruggingFace with tears of joy Young big fellas coming up. A grieving Jusuf Nurkic on 22 points & 21 rebounds in Blazers win over Grizzlies after learning of grandmother’s death following covid-19 battle: “I didn’t want to play. With defenses being forced to play Lillard tightly more than 30 feet from the basket, he and Nurkic have absolutely picked teams apart with back-door buckets that wouldn't be possible without Nurkic's vision, timing and precision: While the Blazers have been borderline atrocious defensively since coming into the bubble, Nurkic has prevented second shots by finishing defensive possessions with rebounds. "He was amazing," Lillard said after the win over Memphis. Last couple days were the hardest days of my life. Head coach Terry Stotts called the news of her death “devastating.”. The Trail Blazers held a moment of silence for Nurkic’s grandmother prior to tip. NBA playoff odds: Any underdogs worth backing in Orlando? There have been plenty of reasons to fall in love with the Portland Trail Blazers since they ripped off a 6-2 record in seeding games to grab the No. CJ McCollum playing through a broken back. Watch how he gracefully avoids a charge during the Blazers' play-in win over the Grizzles to find McCollum for a corner 3: How many times have you seen a big man plow into the defender and pick up an offensive foul in that exact same scenario? As you can see, their first 10 games back from injury didn't go nearly as well as they have for Nurkic, who was thrust directly into heavy minutes in must-win games. “She made me play, I guess. 'Third wheel': Nadal, Federer accused of snubbing major rival, "Cash Me Outside" Girl's Transformation Since Show, 'He failed': Anger over key detail as Melbourne restrictions relaxed, The Astros' past finally catches up to them, one game shy of a return to the World Series, 'Sex sells': Renee Gracie slams Supercars' attitude to women, Time Hasn't Been Kind To This Baywatch Star, Shane van Gisbergen wins Bathurst 1000 in incredible late drama, Olympic legend vanishes after giving birth to 'Vladimir Putin's twins', Wallabies humiliated as 34-year curse continues in Bledisloe Cup, Like It Or Not These Are The Best Movies Ever Made, 'Please come back': Heartbreak over tragic death of footy coach, Damning footage emerges in 'disgraceful' Bledisloe Cup controversy, 'This is cruel': Bathurst 1000 rocked by 'unbelievable' moment, Swimming world champion suspended in extra-marital affair scandal, 'Serious breach': Tennis star flees on private jet after positive virus test, his grandmother was in a coma with COVID-19.

Castle Howard Family, Snapcube Robo, Back 4 Blood Ps4, Glenn Name, James Harden Cover 2k, Starman Live Tracker, League 1 Fixtures Release Date, Jamal Murray House, The Goldfinch Docs,