As Trail Blazers veteran Carmelo Anthony headed to the charity strip Saturday afternoon with just 6.2 seconds remaining in Portland’s first play-in game against the Memphis Grizzlies, the camera caught Jusuf Nurkic and CJ McCollum.
The two shared a long hug.
I love you great friend @ bosnianbeast27 . We will keep you ???????? pic.twitter.com/z6IDQXOBPz
– CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) August 15, 2020
Former Blazers forward and veteran Anthony Tolliver had been fouled after grabbing Melo in the closing seconds. The Trail Blazers had a 123-119 lead at that time in the game.
It was a moment, when Nurkic and McCollum hugged, that really captured Saturday’s game and the emotions Nurkic was experiencing.
On the bus ride to the arena on Saturday morning, Nurkic discovered that his grandmother had died from COVID-19.
I didn’t want to play today, he made me play, I guess. Personally, I didn’t want to play tonight … But I think I’ve already made the decision to stay here with the team, so I think she would like me to play, so I’m glad we won and we’re playing in the playoffs – what we came for. – Trail Blazers Jusuf Nurkic Center
Nurkic poured his heart and soul into Saturday’s game, finishing with 22 points, 21 rebounds and six assists in 41 minutes of work.
We did it grandma ????????❤️
Promise to fight like you did????????#RIPGrandma #I love you #Playoffs # Innalillahiveinnailejhiradžiun #Nancy❤️– Jusuf Nurkić (@ bosnianbeast27) August 15, 2020
[Listen to the Talkin’ Blazers Podcast with hosts NBA Champion Channing Frye and Emmy Award winner Dan Sheldon and special guest Kevin Love].
Blazer coach Terry Stotts said that after the game there was never any talk of Nurk not playing on Saturday.
“Obviously it was exciting. I couldn’t be prouder of him. It is very difficult. I know this has been hanging over his head for a while. There was never any talk of not playing, ”Stotts said.
Trail Blazers team captain Damian Lillard, who finished with yet another double, this time with 31 points and 10 assists, praised his great man after the win.
I think it was great. I thought it was a really special performance of her to have to deal with her grandmother’s death and be able to go out and make that kind of effort and be focused on a basketball game when she had something much more important in mind and on his heart. I think it says a lot about his character, who he is and how much it means to him to be back out there and be part of this team. – Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard on Jusuf Nurkic
After McCollum and Nurkic hugged, McCollum and Lillard also shared a hug as Portland showed her experience to the young Memphis team and ended up defeating the Grizzlies, 126-122. Portland now advances to the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
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Nurkic, Lillard and McCollum looked exhausted when the final horn sounded, but they realized what they set out to do when they came to Orlando: they made it to the playoffs.
We basically played a nine-game playoff series. – Blazers manager Terry Stotts told about seeding matches and play-in tournament
McCollum, who continued to play despite the pain of a small back fracture, was Clutch McCollum on Saturday.
Or more like Shark McCollum.
I always said I was a shark … No matter what the circumstances. I’ve always told people not to worry about me, I’ll find out how to eat and that’s what I’ve always done … Because if you don’t kill, you’ll be killed here. You will be destroyed, figuratively of course, and you will return home. – CJ McCollum
McCollum also had words for Memphis rookie Ja Morant throughout the game, like a shark wearing teeth, saying, “You can’t protect me.”
– Casey Holdahl (@CHold) August 15, 2020
The Grizzlies should have asked National Geographic for help to avoid a shark attack:
“The first step is to try to avoid the attack completely.”
Find out how to survive a shark attack: https://t.co/t0etkdI
– National Geographic (@NatGeo) August 31, 2011
Memphis couldn’t avoid McCollum’s attack. Blazers’ starting shooting guard scored a third step behind with 1:50 remaining on the clock and then followed a 21-foot jumper to bring Portland up 119-113 with 1:21 left.
McCollum put his health aside as he continued to be on track for his team.
However, after Saturday’s victory, he discussed that his aching back just can’t come close to what Nurkic is dealing with right now.
“What he is going through is nothing compared to what I am going through right now – losing someone so close to him, so our prayers are with him and we will continue to try to support him as best we can, but we are grateful that he has been in able to go out and fight today, but with us it’s a lot bigger than basketball. Family is always the most important thing, “McCollum said.
Playing for each other – that’s what this Trail Blazers team is doing right now.
And it starts with Damian Lillard.
“I’ve said it a lot – a lot comes with Dame,” explained Coach Stotts about his team’s character and how they fight adversity. “I think Dame leadership, his approach when he came to Orlando – the team fed on that. It’s a collection of wills … It’s nothing I’ve done, I think it’s within each of them. “
Lillard is the real deal on the pitch. Nobody will contest it. (Expect Skip Bayless.)
But Lillard is also the real deal when it comes to being a true teammate.
It is because of Lillard’s elevated temper that the Blazers are where they are today, just like the five-time All-Star voiced after the match:
I try to be an example of the things I preach and the standard we have in our culture. I like to build real relationships with my teammates. I have a real friendship with all my teammates and I am able to tell them certain things or share certain things with them in the heat of the battle or just on the bench or in the locker room or whatever, because they know that I really care about them and they know I really want the best for them … When you show people that you believe in them and show people that you care for them over time and always do, then you don’t have to be a dictator over everything or try to manage everything. People respect you and return the energy you give them. – Damian Lillard
The hugs between Lillard and McCollum, and McCollum and Nurkic, weren’t just sighs of relief that they won’t have to play a second play-in game on Sunday. Hugs weren’t symbols that they’re just happy to be headed to the playoffs for a chance to upset the Lakers.
They are more than that.
The friendship between these three and the entire roster begins with the Trail Blazers as an organization as McCollum pointed out after the win.
We chase a certain type of player with a certain type of character. Historically, our organization has done a good job of directing people to where we are able to come together as one and it starts with our leadership group and then goes all the way to Dame and then to me, and I think we can to get people on board. And the way Dame conducts it should be commended. They should write a book about it. It is genuine. He is honest. He is worrying. He cares about the fifteenth man, the same way he cares about the second and third guys on the team and I think that shows you his character. – CJ McCollum
Nurkic was presented with the game ball in the locker room on Saturday before the team shouted “Family” on three.
FAMILY ON THREE #RipCity pic.twitter.com/JOU98Y0QBq
– Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) August 15, 2020
This Blazers family is now fixing their eyes on an upset first round, and you may be they won’t have hugs in store for the LA Lakers.
