The Phoenix Suns’ center Jusuf Nurkic delivered a rebounding performance not seen in more than a decade in a 118-110 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night. Nurkic finished the game with 31 rebounds, which is a new Suns franchise record.
Nurkic had 12 rebounds in the first quarter alone, accounting for all but one rebound of the entire Suns team for that period. He ended up with 13 offensive rebounds and 18 defensive rebounds on the night while adding 14 points and four assists.
Nurkic’s 31 rebounds were the most by any player in the NBA since Kevin Love had 31 boards in 2010-11. He surpassed the Suns’ previous record posted by Tyson Chandler, who had a 27-rebound performance during the 2015-16 NBA season. The Bosnian center also improved on his previous career high of 23 boards in a single game.
“Incredible,” said Suns’ head coach Frank Vogel after the game. “The loss aside, you just look at a 31-rebound night, at any point in the NBA history, [it] is just an incredible performance. The best in Phoenix Suns history. He is a beast on the defensive end of the court.”
Since being acquired in an offseason trade from the Portland Trail Blazers, Jusuf Nurkic emerged as a key player for the Suns. He has brought physical presence to a star-studded roster while displaying impressive passing for a big man. Nurkic is currently averaging 11.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists on the season.
