A fringe playoff spot is still very attainable for the Portland Trail Blazers, and they may be receiving a welcome lift at some point as well.
Blazers star Damian Lillard said on Wednesday that injured center Jusuf Nurkic has returned to full practice, per Jason Quick of The Athletic.
Nurkic, who averaged 15.6 points and 10.4 rebounds per game for Portland last season, suffered a gruesome broken left leg in March and has been out ever since. The Blazers acquired Hassan Whiteside over the summer, and while he has manned the middle adequately in Nurkic’s absence, he is due for free agency after the season.
Portland sits just two games out of the playoffs at the moment, and Nurkic, even if just in a limited bench role, would be a big boost to a potential push.
