Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic suffers fractured right wrist in loss to Pacers

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic fractured his right wrist Thursday night during a game against the Indiana Pacers.

Nurkic could be seen holding the wrist after swiping at the ball on a drive by the Pacers' Malcolm Brogdon in the third quarter, and he fell to the floor after contact under Indiana's basket. At a timeout, Nurkic went to to the locker room and did not return.

The 7-foot Bosnian was averaging 10.3 points and 7.6 rebounds heading into the game.

Nurkic missed the entire first part of last season after breaking his left leg in a game in March 2019. He returned to the team to play in the the bubble in Orlando, Florida, after the season was put on hold because of coronavirus.

"He had a long road back from his other injury," coach Terry Stotts said. "He had a rough start of the season, it looked like he was getting back on track. Obviously this is a big setback for him and for us."

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Stotts said Nurkic was in a splint after the game.

The Blazers were already without forward/center Zach Collins indefinitely after he had ankle surgery at the end of December.