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The Portland Trail Blazers have been waiting, wishing, and hoping for good news where CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic are concerned as the two continue to recover from their injuries. According to AJ McCord of KOIN, McCollum will now be allowed to participate in contact practices. McCollum suffered a broken foot in mid-January.
Trail Blazers’ CJ McCollum has been cleared for contact practice. He will be reevaluated “later next week” according to the team
— AJ McCord (@AJ_McCord) March 4, 2021
As for Jusuf Nurkic, he broke his right wrist a game prior to McCollum’s injury, and he is expected to continue working on his recovery. Like McCollum, he will be re-evaluated next week.
Trail Blazers say Jusuf Nurkic "continues to progress" in his recovery from surgery on his right wrist and that he will "continue to increase his on-court activity." He will be evaluated later next week.
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) March 4, 2021
Prior to the injury to his foot, McCollum was enjoying a breakout season, averaging 26.7 points and 5.0 assists for Portland over the course of 13 games. With both McCollum and Nurkic out as well as Zach Collins, Damian Lillard has had to step up and carry the Trail Blazers. The team currently has a 20-13 record and is second in the Northwest Division despite the absence of three starters.
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