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After a rough week due to knee inflammation, Portland Trail Blazers’ Jusuf Nurkic will be available to play against the Miami Heat. Nurkic missed a matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. He returned to play in a loss against the Utah Jazz, but he will miss the game against the Detroit Pistons due to the home back-to-back.
Blazers coach Terry Stotts said Jusuf Nurkic will play Sunday against Miami and that Rondae Hollis-Jefferson will play tonight against Detroit. Nurkic being held out tonight was for precautionary reasons after his knee swelled last week.
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) April 11, 2021
Nurkic has had a rough year when it comes to injury. First, he returned to play in the Bubble after missing significant time due to a broken leg. Then he fractured his wrist in a game against the Indiana Pacers in mid-January. Now he is suffering from knee inflammation — though notably, the swelling is not in the knee of his previously-broken leg.
It is likely that Nurkic will continue to be on a minutes restriction in the game against the Miami Heat.
In his 18 games for the Trail Blazers, Nurkic has averaged 9.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists.