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Nurkic returns for Blazers in Game 3 following leg injury

Craig Mitchelldyer / USA TODAY Sports

The Portland Trail Blazers will have their man in the middle back in the starting lineup for Game 3 against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night at the Moda Center.

Bosnian big man Jusuf Nurkic will make his series debut for Portland after sitting the first two games while recovering from a non-displaced fibular fracture in his right leg. The injury also cost the 22-year-old the final seven games of the regular season, with the Trail Blazers going 4-3 during that span.

Prior to going down, Nurkic was putting up sensational numbers after coming over from the Denver Nuggets ahead of the trade deadline. He averaged a double-double of 15.2 points and 10.4 rebounds on 50.8 percent shooting in 20 appearances, along with 3.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.9 rejections.

Golden State will once again be without four-time scoring champion Kevin Durant on Saturday as he nurses a calf injury. Head coach Steve Kerr also won't be with the team due to an illness. He'll be replaced with Mike Brown.

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