Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic is sidelined until after the All-Star break due to a left calf strain, the team announced Friday.
The Trail Blazers (25-26) have seven games on their schedule before the All-Star festivities, which will take place from Feb. 17-19 in Salt Lake City. Portland returns to action on Feb. 23 in Sacramento.
Nurkic aggravated the injury early in the first quarter on Wednesday and did not return in the Trail Blazers’ 122-112 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. An MRI conducted on Thursday revealed a left calf strain, the team announced.
Drew Eubanks likely will see additional playing time in place of Nurkic, who is averaging 13.8 points and a team-leading 9.4 rebounds in 45 games (all starts) this season.
Nurkic, 28, has contributed 12.4 points and 8.6 rebounds in 456 career games (375 starts) with the Denver Nuggets and Trail Blazers. Portland acquired Nurkic in a February 2017 trade with Denver.
–Field Level Media
