Suns C Jusuf Nurkic returns after two-game absence

Field Level Media|published: Wed 27th December, 18:00 2023

Dec 15, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic (20) drives on the New York Knicks in the second half at Footprint Center. credits: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic was back with the team Wednesday after missing the previous two games following the death of his uncle.

Nurkic returned to his native Bosnia to be with family and is now in Houston in advance of the Suns' game against the Rockets on Wednesday. He was initially listed as probable to play.

"He was like my big brother," Nurkic said Wednesday, according to the Arizona Republic. "One of the few people, maybe the only one to know me since I was born. Talked to him pretty much every day. Three times a day."

The Suns have lost five of their last six games, including three in a row. The last two defeats have come without Nurkic as Phoenix fell to the Sacramento Kings 120-105 on Friday and 128-114 against the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day.

Phoenix remains without Bradley Beal (ankle), who has logged only six games this season.

Nurkic, 29, has averaged 12.1 points and 10.3 rebounds in 27 games. In 10 NBA seasons for the Denver Nuggets (2015-17), Portland Trail Blazers (2017-23) and Suns, Nurkic has averaged 12.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.

After the Suns play at Houston, they return home for a stretch of six consecutive games.

—Field Level Media