SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic will miss at least four weeks with a partial plantar plate tear of the second toe in his right foot, the team announced Wednesday, sidelining the veteran big man just as Utah was set to evaluate a new-look frontcourt.
Utah said Nurkic sustained the injury during Sunday's preseason opener against the Denver Nuggets. He checked out with 2:41 remaining in the first half and did not return after halftime as Utah went on to win 109-97. The 32-year-old logged 11 minutes in that game, finishing with two points, five rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal while Utah outscored Denver by three points with him on the floor. The Jazz said Nurkic will be re-evaluated in four weeks and that "an update will be provided at that time."
The setback interrupts a key role for Nurkic, the 16th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft who has averaged 11.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 blocks in 24.5 minutes per game across 12 seasons with Denver, Portland, Phoenix, Charlotte and Utah. He joined Utah before the 2025-26 season, made 41 appearances with 36 starts last season, and re-signed on a two-year, $22 million contract in free agency. After Utah moved restricted free agent center Walker Kessler to the Los Angeles Lakers for two unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps, Nurkic moved back into the starting lineup alongside Lauri Markkanen and trade-deadline acquisition Jaren Jackson Jr., an alignment that lets the former Defensive Player of the Year Jackson play power forward and gives guards Keyonte George and No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson a screening and handoff hub in head coach Will Hardy's offense.
With Nurkic out, Utah turned to Jaxson Hayes as the starter in Tuesday's second preseason meeting with Denver, a 117-106 loss to the Nuggets. The seven-year veteran is expected to see increased minutes alongside third-year big man Kyle Filipowski, while Hardy could also slide Jackson to center to open a wing spot for rising sophomore Ace Bailey, who started for Markkanen on Tuesday and had 10 points on 4-for-12 shooting with seven rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in 27 minutes.