Jusuf Nurkic Injury: Updates on Nuggets Center's Ankle and Return

Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic left early in the fourth quarter and did not return to Wednesday night's 110-96 loss to the Phoenix Suns after suffering a lateral ankle sprain in his right ankle.

Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post reported the news:

Nurkic, 20, exited the game with 9:29 remaining in the fourth quarter and did not return. He finished with eight points and eight rebounds in 22 minutes. Forward Joffrey Lauvergne entered the game for Nurkic and split big-man minutes with J.J. Hickson. The Nuggets were already without forwards Kenneth Faried and Darrell Arthur, the latter of whom exited in the first quarter.

The No. 16 overall pick in last year's draft, Nurkic has been a revelation as a rookie. He's averaging 7.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game in 18 minutes per night, slowly entrenching himself in the starting lineup. The 6'11" brute has improved his points and rebounding numbers in every month of the season.

Without Nurkic in the short term, the Nuggets will play small with Hickson starting at the center spot. Denver hosts Utah on Friday, so expect a more concrete timetable by then.

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