Lilliard, McCollum Credit Nurkic For Inspiring Trail Blazers' Series Win Over Thunder

The Portland Trail Blazers beat Oklahoma City Thunder 118-115 to win the first round of the playoffs 4-1 and it was all on the back of Damian Lillard’s 50 points and 10 three-pointers, one of which came on the buzzer in the fourth quarter when the game was tied at 115 apiece. But head coach Terry Stotts and the players have also credited Jusuf Nurkic for having an impact and inspiring their come-from-behind win.

The Bosnian center suffered a devastating compound fracture just under a month ago during the Trail Blazers’ win over the Nets and had not been seen in the arena since. He is a vital part of the team and he made an appearance in the fourth quarter with his team eight points down on Thunder.

Lillard inspired the comeback on the court and his buzzer-beating 35-feet three-pointer blew the rood off the Moda Center and gave him 50-points for the night. But the coach and the players – Lillard and CJ McCollum, suggested that Nurkic brought “good karma” by arriving at the right time.

“By the end of the third quarter, I was like f--- it, excuse my French. I’m just gonna go there and show up and I know if I show up we going to win this game,” Nurkic said after the Trail Blazers had booked their place in the Western Conference semi-finals.

Trail Blazers coach Stotts credited him the eight points they needed to tie the game and then the three points that saw them win the game and wrap up the series, stating: “I was told that we were down eight when he showed up, so he’s got a +8. Actually more than that ‘we won by 3 right’ so +11.”

“The fact that he showed up, no one knew he was going to show up. I honestly think we fed off of that. I think there was a little good karma when he showed up,” the head coach added.

McCollum also admitted that it meant a lot, especially since Nurkic had told him prior to the game that he was not ready to make an appearance in the arena yet. He joked that it would have looked bad for the Bosnian, who left home during the third quarter, but made it clear that Nurkic’s arrival galvanized the team and everyone wanted to ensure they got the win to honor the injured Bosnian.