Jazz middle Jusuf Nurkić to miss at least a month with proper foot harm

Utah Jazz middle Jusuf Nurkić will be sidelined for at least 4 weeks after struggling a partial plantar plate tear of the second toe of his proper foot, the group announced Wednesday — a powerful blow for a group hoping to make a important leap up the Western Conference standings this season.

The Jazz say Nurkić sustained the harm during Utah’s preseason opener against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. It’s unclear precisely when the 32-year-old middle got harm; he checked out with 2:41 remaining in the first half, and did not return after halftime. The Jazz went on to beat the Nuggets, 109-97.

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The sixteenth total choose in the 2014 NBA Draft, Nurkić has averaged 11.8 factors, 8.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 blocks in 24.5 minutes per sport over the course of a 12-year NBA profession that has included stints with the Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, Charlotte Hornets and Jazz, whom he joined before the 2025-26 NBA season. After he made 41 appearances in Salt Lake City last season, including 36 begins, the Jazz re-signed Nurkić to a two-year, $22 million contract in free company.

When the Los Angeles Lakers provided Utah two unprotected first-round picks plus two more choose swaps for restricted free agent middle Walker Kessler, the Bosnian huge man rapidly jumped back up the depth chart and into the beginning lineup alongside incumbent star Lauri Markkanen and trade-deadline acquisition Jaren Jackson Jr. That’s the entrance line that Utah began in the preseason opener — a group that permits former Defensive Player of the Year Jackson to play his more natural place at energy ahead, that maximizes Utah’s dimension and rebounding potential on the defensive finish, and that gives the newly prolonged Keyonte George and No. 2 total draft choose Darryn Peterson a constant screening accomplice, dribble handoff hub and connective passer to pair with in head coach Will Hardy’s free-flowing offense.

The early returns were promising — Nurkić had two factors, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, one block and one steal in the opener, with Utah outscoring Denver by three factors in his 11 minutes of ground time — but Hardy and Co. will now have to wait a while before getting a longer look at that grouping. Nurkić will be re-evaluated in 4 weeks, and could be sidelined even longer; “an update will be provided at that time,” the Jazz said in their assertion.

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The Jazz began Jaxson Hayes in the center in their second preseason sport against the Nuggets on Tuesday. With Nurkić unavailable, the seven-year veteran figures to see an uptick in taking part in time and alternatives through the begin of the common season, as could third-year huge man Kyle Filipowski.

Hardy could also look to shift Jackson up to the 5 spot, creating space on the wing for rising sophomore Ace Bailey to slide in alongside Markkanen, George and Peterson. The second-year professional began in place of Markkanen on Tuesday, scoring 10 factors on 4-for-12 taking pictures with seven rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in 27 minutes of play as the Nuggets beat the Jazz, 117-106.