NBA Notes: Jazz, Jusuf Nurkic, Kings, Bucks, Kasparas Jakucionis

Jazz

The Jazz will have to open the season without Jusuf Nurkic, leaving coach Will Hardy with an early decision in the middle.

Nurkic will miss at least four weeks with a partial plantar plate tear in the second toe of his right foot, according to Chris Haynes, as relayed by Jared Koch of Jazz on SI.

The veteran center averaged 10.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 41 games last season. With Walker Kessler gone, Nurkic was positioned for another substantial role.

Koch identifies Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jaxson Hayes as the most likely starting alternatives. Moving Jackson to center would allow Utah to emphasize its most talented players, while Hayes would provide a more traditional replacement.

Neither option fully replaces Nurkic’s combination of rebounding, screening and passing. Hayes has played well in the preseason, Koch notes, giving Hardy at least one encouraging development as he adjusts the rotation.

Kings

Giving up 20 3-pointers to the Lakers wasn’t the defensive start the Kings had in mind.

Coach Doug Christie still wants Sacramento to protect the paint. He also expects his defenders to recover to shooters.

“More than anything, we want to protect the paint, but we want to arrive on the catch and contest threes,” Christie said, via Brenden Nunes, as cited by Eric Sperlazza of Kings on SI. “But the ability to be in to be out, that means that you’re thinking ahead.”

Sperlazza examines the difficulty of executing that approach with Sacramento’s personnel. The Kings finished last in opponent 3-point percentage last season, and he questions whether their perimeter defense can improve enough while accommodating offensive-minded guards.

Keegan Murray and Ben Simmons missed the opener, so Sacramento hasn’t shown its full defensive group. Still, Sperlazza argues that Christie faces a difficult balance between helping Domantas Sabonis inside and keeping defenders close enough to challenge outside shots.

Bucks

Taylor Jenkins intends to look deeper into the Bucks’ roster after using 14 players in their preseason-opening loss to the Timberwolves.

“I anticipate working in some of those guys; not sure if it’ll be all of the guys,” Jenkins said Tuesday, via Tre Allen of Bucks on SI.

Allen highlights Kasparas Jakucionis, Ousmane Dieng and rookie Bogoljub Markovic as players awaiting opportunities after sitting out the opener.

Jakucionis, acquired in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, is particularly comfortable creating out of pick-and-rolls.

“I always feel the most comfortable playing pick and roll, so I’m kind of feeling good about that and just excited,” he said.

Dieng averaged 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 30 games for Milwaukee last season before re-signing. Markovic arrives after winning MVP honors in the Adriatic League.

Jenkins hasn’t promised minutes to everyone. Allen’s rundown illustrates how many players are still trying to establish where they fit.