Jazz keep Jusuf Nurkic out of starting lineup Thursday, center minutes tilt to Kyle Filipowski, Kevin Love
The Jazz are holding Jusuf Nurkic out of the starting lineup on Thursday night (ET), keeping the veteran center available but positioning rookie Kyle Filipowski to open at the five again, with Kevin Love prepared to absorb rotation minutes in the middle. The move points to a limited role for Nurkic, if he plays at all.
Why the Jazz made the tweak
The staff continues to lean on a frontcourt look that prioritizes spacing, mobility, and pick-and-pop range. Filipowski’s ability to stretch to the arc and operate as a handoff hub has blended well with the first unit’s pace. Love offers similar floor-spacing and connective passing in reserve groups, letting the team maintain offensive shape without overloading Nurkic immediately upon his return to availability.
What Thursday’s rotation likely looks like
Filipowski projects to handle the opening stint at center and see the first call after halftime. Love is positioned to take a healthy share of second-unit minutes, especially in lineups prioritizing shooting and veteran decision-making. Nurkic, while dressed, appears ticketed for a situational role. If he checks in, expect short bursts designed to leverage his screening, physicality on the glass, and interior passing. If the game script tightens or foul trouble hits the front line, his number could still be called, but the baseline expectation is light usage.
Nurkic’s status and recent pattern
Nurkic was available earlier in the week but did not rejoin the opening group. That approach continues Thursday, signaling a deliberate ramp-up rather than a rush back to heavy minutes. The team has multiple workable combinations at center, allowing the staff to manage Nurkic’s workload while evaluating long-term pairings around the primary ball-handlers and wings.
Impact on the game plan
With Filipowski and Love anchoring most of the center minutes, the offense gains pick-and-pop gravity that can unclog driving lanes and widen kickout angles for shooters. Defensively, the tradeoff is physical size and rim deterrence. Expect more switching with the stretch bigs on the floor, plus an emphasis on gang rebounding to offset the lack of a traditional paint enforcer. If second-chance points or paint touches become a problem, a brief Nurkic stretch could serve as a corrective, particularly to stabilize the defensive glass.
Fantasy and wagering angles
- Jusuf Nurkic: Treat as a risky play Thursday. Availability without a starting nod points to a capped ceiling. He falls into a deeper-league streamer or contingency-only slot unless pregame updates shift sharply.
- Kyle Filipowski: Arrow up. A starting role with pick-and-pop volume and rebounding chances makes him a viable plug-in, especially for points, threes from the center spot, and boards.
- Kevin Love: Viable in formats counting threes, rebounds, and assists from the frontcourt. His minutes should be steady as long as the rotation prioritizes spacing.
- Team totals: A stretch-five orientation generally supports pace and perimeter attempts. If the matchup trends toward smaller lineups, overs on team threes and assist props for primary creators can gain traction.
What to watch next
Monitor how the first-quarter substitution pattern treats the center spot. If Nurkic remains on the bench through the entire opening frame, it strengthens the read that his night will be limited to emergencies or highly specific matchups. Keep an eye on second-chance points and defensive rebounding in the first half; any slippage there increases the odds of a Nurkic cameo to reset the paint battle. For the longer view, track whether Filipowski’s starting run sticks beyond Thursday and how often Love closes halves — both are tells for where Nurkic’s role may settle once he’s fully reintegrated.
As of Thursday evening ET, the Jazz appear committed to continuity with Filipowski in the opening group and Love stabilizing bench units. Nurkic remains an on-call option, but the current blueprint points to a careful ramp rather than an immediate return to heavy minutes.
