Jusuf Nurkic dominates Denver Nuggets and verbally ends their season

Portland Trail Blazers’ center Jusuf Nurkic dominated the Denver Nuggets in last night’s win and verbally crushed their playoff hopes afterwards.

Jusuf Nurkic scored 33 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, and basically had his way with his former team last night. The Denver Nuggets traded the talented young big to the Portland Trail Blazers last month in exchange for Mason Plumlee. That was not lost on Nurkic as he delivered a body blow to the Nuggets during an on-court interview after the game.

Jusuf Nurkic grew frustrated with his reserve role in Denver. Through the first 45 games of the season, Nurkic played just under 18 minutes per game with the Nuggets. Nikola Jokic’s emergence as the team’s best player made Nurkic expendable.

The Denver Nuggets believe their future is hitched to the continued growth of Nikola Jokic. He’s among the most efficient offensive players in the league.

One could argue the Nuggets chose right and also did Jusuf Nurkic a favor, by trading him to the Trail Blazers. Nurkic now plays with one of the best backcourt tandems in the NBA, in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Lillard and McCollum are All-Star caliber guards who command extra attention from defenses, leaving Nurkic as the benefactor.

Through 19 games with the Trail Blazers, Nurkic’s prduction has virtually doubled. He’s averaging 15 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 29 minutes per game. He gets to be an essential cog on a young team that should be a perennial playoff contender.

The Trail Blazers now lead the Nuggets by one game in the Western Conference playoff race. They have won eight of their last ten games, including four straight.

Next: Is Jusuf Nurkic the greatest Trail Blazers player of all time? Yes.

However, there are eight games remaining so more work awaits the Trail Blazers. Jusuf Nurkic has won for now. But he better make sure his team does not falter down the stretch and miss the playoffs or the Denver Nuggets will have the last laugh.