Vs: Brooklyn Nets
Date: 19/03/25
Result: Blazers win: 148-144
Nurkic: 32 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks, 2 steals
Sigh.
This game is still a heartbreaker, and probably always will be. However, just before Nurkic went down with that horrific broken leg, he was in the middle of absolutely torching the Brooklyn Nets.
In 33 minutes, Nurk tallied 32 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks. He’d never looked better, and the Portland Trail Blazers looked like a team that could go all the way. I’m serious when I say this, if Nurkic had been around for the WCF series, the Blazers have a shot at going to the Finals. They were that good, and he is that good.
People forget that the Blazers had 15+ point leads in 3 of the 4 games against the Warriors. A competent scorer, playmaker and defender like Nurk in the mix, and I’m sure the Blazers hold onto at least a couple of those wins.
Nurk isn’t usually as aggressive as he was this game, but it shows off the layers he has as a player. Whether he was bullying Jarrett Allen or exploiting mismatches, Nurkic was unstoppable in the paint.
Nurkic managed to get so much offense out of the Harkless and Aminu too, and this game is a prime example. The two forwards never stopped cutting, and Nurk is one of the few big men in the game with the skills to make those sorts of passes.
The Blazers will play the Nets in game six of eight, which hopefully gives Nurkic enough time to shake off that rust, and go straight back to work.