By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net/ Twitter.com/AStroggylakis
If you count yourself among those who don’t believe in coincidences then perhaps you weren’t actually surprised with Jusuf Nurkic having a career-night performance in the victory of the Portland Trail Blazers against the Denver Nuggets.
The “Bosnian Beast” lived up to his nickname and then some by dropping 33 points and getting 16 rebounds to damage his former teammates. Along with CJ McCollum (39 points) he granted Blazers the most important win of the season, so far. 112 – 103 against a squad with the same goals.
Before that match, the two teams were tied at the West Conference standings but no more. The Blazers are now 36 – 38 and eighth. One game ahead and carrying the sweet tiebreaker in their bags while the Nuggets are 35 – 39 and outside the playoffs zone.
Nurkic went rampant on Denver that traded him to Portland last month for reasons that weren’t 100% basketball related. Did he hold a grudge for that?
Well that depends. Directly after causing all sorts of trouble to the people he used to share the locker rooms some months ago with and beating them in a crucial showdown, he wished them, “Happy summer”, on camera. Obvious trolling was obvious.
Surrounded by journalists later in the locker room, Nurkic was asked again if this game was personal. “Not really,” he answered. “I love those guys. I’m happy to see them. It’s always nice to see friends you spent three years with.”
You shouldn’t doubt that the Bosnian big guy indeed loves his former teammates but you also can’t overlook the fact that he was obviously savoring the taste of vengeance against the club that had began considering him a burden and not an asset, only to send him away.
Meanwhile, the Blazers made the most out all the motivation, hunger and iron will Nurkic brought with him in maximum dozes from Denver. And they are currently more than one step ahead (considering their schedule) for the playoffs battle in the West.