Jusuf Nurkic, a pivot for the Portland Trail Blazers, fractured his right wrist on Thursday night during a 111-87 loss to visiting Indiana Pacers.
Nurkic can be seen holding his wrist after hitting the ball in the third quarter, and he fell to the ground after contact under Indiana’s basket. At a break, he went to the locker room and didn’t come back.
Trail Blazers did not immediately indicate how much time Nurkic will lose.
The 2.10 Bosnian center averaged 10.3 points and 7.6 rebounds at the start of the game.
Nurkic lost much of the first half of last season after breaking his left leg in a game in March 2019. He returned to the team to play in the bubble in Orlando, Florida, after the season was suspended because of the coronavirus.
“He had a long way back after another injury,” said coach Terry Stotts. “He had a difficult start to the season, he looked like he was getting back on track. Obviously, this is a big setback for him and for us.”
Stotts said Nurkic had a splint after the game.
The Blazers were already without striker / center Zach Collins indefinitely after ankle surgery in late December.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.