Jusuf Nurkic Out for Suns vs. Jazz

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets will miss Friday's game against the Pelicans due to personal reasons, marking his first absence of the season. In his place, players like Zeke Nnaji and DeAndre Jordan are expected to see increased playing time. Meanwhile, Jusuf Nurkic has been cleared to play after recovering from left ankle soreness, which had previously sidelined him. Despite his injury struggles, Nurkic has recently shown an improvement in his 3-point shooting, making 50% of his attempts over the last four games. The Suns are also coping with the absence of Kevin Durant, who is out for at least two weeks due to a left calf strain, and rookie Collin Gillespie is sidelined with an ankle fracture. Coach Mike Budenholzer expressed hope that Nurkic's injury is short-term and emphasized the importance of player development in the G League.