Watch: Jusuf Nurkic throws down powerful dunk in FIBA World Cup qualifier

Portland Trail Blazers Center Jusuf Nurkic (27) shoots the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Mamadi Diakite (12) during the second half at Moda Center. Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Blazers C Jusuf Nurkic posterizes defender with powerful dunk in FIBA World Cup qualifier

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated Aug 28, 2022 12:00 AM ET

Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic helped lead Bosnia and Herzegovina to an upset win over France in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers on Saturday.

Nurkic and the 46th-ranked Bosnia and Herzegovina pulled off a 96-90 double-overtime victory over the France squad led by Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier. France is slotted at No. 4 in the FIBA rankings.

While Nurkic led the team with 21 points, an emphatic dunk midway through the fourth quarter swung the momentum.

Standing at the top of the key, Nurkic faked a three-pointer before aggressively driving to the basket and throwing down a monstrous one-handed dunk over a France defender.

Jusuf Nurkic just dropped the hammer in @FIBAWC qualifiers! pic.twitter.com/4RHA5TQiSs
— NBA (@NBA) August 27, 2022

Nurkic finished 9-of-16 from the floor, adding nine rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block.

A first-round pick of the Chicago Bulls in 2014, Nurkic has spent eight seasons in the NBA. The 28-year-old recently wrapped up his sixth season with the Blazers. Over 56 regular-season games, Nurkic averaged 15 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 steals over 56 regular-season games.

Mike Santa Barbara

Mike Santa Barbara is a Wilmington, Delaware native (Yes, it's a real place) with over a decade of sports writing experience. A diehard Philadelphia sports fan, he has two dogs named after Flyers and cried real tears when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII. You can follow him on Twitter at @mike__sb

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