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Jusuf Nurkić sets Suns single-game franchise record for rebounds against Thunder

Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić set a franchise record with an incredible 31 rebounds in the Suns’ 118-110 loss to the Thunder tonight.

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Thirteen of his rebounds came on the offensive glass. This was the most rebounds in a single game in the NBA since Nov. 12, 2010, when Kevin Love also had 31 rebounds. The 31 rebounds tie Nurkić with Love and others for eighth most in an NBA game since the 1983-84 season. 

The old franchise record was 27, originally set by Paul Silas vs. Cincinnati at Omaha on Jan. 18, 1971. Tyson Chandler then tied this record on Jan. 23, 2016 against the Atlanta Hawks.

“Incredible,” Suns’ coach Frank Vogel said of Nurkić’s performance postgame. “The loss aside, if you just look at the 31-rebound night at any point in the NBA, in NBA history, is just incredible performance. Obviously, the best in Phoenix Suns history. He is a beast on the defensive boards. I think he is the best defensive rebounder in the game and when he gets a lot of offensive rebounds like he did tonight. I think the (Chet) Holmgren matchup is one that is very challenging to defend because of his offensive skill set, but at least in this point early in his career or early in his tenure, we felt like we hurt them on boards and riled Nurkic up, and he was exceptional there.”

Nurkić recorded his 28th rebound with 7:43 to go in the game. This was part of a fourth quarter where he snagged six rebounds.

“They told me when I had 28,” Nurkić said postgame. “I think I saw it on the screen. It does not really matter. I mean, it is great, but we lost the game.”

Nurkić also surpassed Andre Drummond’s 26 rebounds recorded just four days ago for the most in the NBA this season.

Nurkić broke his previous career high of 23, set on Jan. 1, 2019 with the Blazers. He had 22 rebounds twice this season before this outburst tonight.

Nurkić accumulated an insane 12 rebounds in the first six minutes of the game alone, tying himself for the most rebounds in a single quarter in the NBA this season.

He continued his dominance on the glass, even when the Suns started to falter, against one of the worst rebounding teams in the league.

In the third quarter, Nurkić had nine rebounds. He helped set up a 15-0 Suns’ run that got them to within three points after OKC led by as much as 24.

Even though the Suns led by as much as six in the fourth quarter, the Thunder came roaring back strong to cap off the victory. Nurkić was a team-high +10 in terms of plus/minus despite the loss.

All in all, Nurkić also had 14 points, four assists and a block. Phoenix has now lost two straight and is 35-26 on the season, falling from playoff contention in the sixth seed to a play-in spot as the seventh seed in the West.

Suns’ Comeback Falls Short in Heartbreaking Loss to Oklahoma City Thunder

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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau

 

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