C.J. McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic Take Steps Toward Returning After All-Star Break

The Trail Blazers updated the statuses of C.J. McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic on Thursday, lending credence to optimism they'll return shortly after the All-Star break.

Jack Winter

C.J. McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic Take Steps Toward Returning After All-Star Break
C.J. McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic Take Steps Toward Returning After All-Star Break /

The Trail Blazers, streaking into the All-Star break at 21-14, are off to their best start since LaMarcus Aldridge's final season in Rip City. Not bad for a team missing two of its three best players. Fortunately for Portland, though, the returns of C.J. McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic are officially on the horizon.

The Blazers announced on Thursday that McCollum has been "cleared for contact practice" and "will be reevaluated later next week." He reacted to the news being made public on Twitter, expressing relief at taking another step in his return to the floor.

McCollum has been sidelined since January 16, when he suffered a small fracture in his left foot. The 29-year-old has a long history of foot issues, dating back to his senior year at Lehigh University. 

Nurkic, meanwhile, doesn't seem quite as close to full health as McCollum. Portland announced on Thursday that he "continues to progress in his recovery" and "continues to increase his on-court activity," suggesting Nurkic's broken wrist isn't ready for contact drills.

The 26-year-old fractured his right wrist on January 14. Less than two weeks ago, Nurkic hinted at returning for the "second half of the season."

Buoyed by MVP-level play from Damian Lillard, the Blazers are 13-9 without McCollum and Nurkic, weathering a major injury storm to enter the break at fifth in the Western Conference standings. 

The frequency and impact of Lillard's crunch-time heroics paint a rosier picture of Portland's performance over that timeframe than more lasting indicators, though. The Blazers' net rating since January 17 is -1.0, per NBA.com/stats, the 20th-best mark in the league.

Will Lillard have to rescue Portland in the clutch so often over the season's second half? As long as McCollum and Nurkic regain their form shortly after returning to the floor, the Blazers aren't counting on it.

READ MORE: The Defining Stretches of Portland's Tough Second-Half Schedule

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Jack Winter
JACK WINTER

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