Jazz Lose Starting Center Nurkic for at Least Four Weeks With Toe Injury

The Utah Jazz will open the new NBA season without their starting center after Jusuf Nurkic suffered a right foot injury in preseason play. The team announced Wednesday that the 32-year-old big man tore part of the plantar plate in the second toe of his right foot, an injury expected to sideline him for at least four weeks, with a re-evaluation scheduled at that point. The injury occurred during Sunday's preseason opener against the Denver Nuggets in Boulder, Colorado, where Nurkic logged just 11 minutes — four points, five rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block — before being shut down. He skipped the team's open practice Monday and was held out of Tuesday's exhibition. The setback is a serious blow to Utah's frontcourt plans. After Walker Kessler's departure, Nurkic was expected to anchor the middle, having re-signed this summer on a two-year, $22 million contract following a productive first season in Salt Lake City in which he averaged 10.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists across 41 appearances. The Bosnian veteran has become a passing and rebounding pillar for the Jazz, setting a franchise mark with three consecutive triple-doubles last season. With Nurkic out, head coach Will Hardy must decide between free-agent addition Jaxson Hayes, who started Tuesday's game, sliding Jaren Jackson Jr. to center, or leaning on Kyle Filipowski and Mo Bamba. Utah opens the regular season October 21 at Memphis.