Shaquille O'Neal and the panel at Inside the NBA on TNT talked at halftime during the Oklahoma City-Portland game about the Trail Blazers deal with Denver that brought in center Jusuf Nurkic.

In a spot O'Neal quipped the "New Edition segment," he talked about Nurkic, who was making his Moda Center debut, while the highlights rolled:

"Nurkic, Chuck, I really like him in the post," O'Neal said to fellow panelist Charles Barkley. "Great skill. I don't know why Denver gave him up."

The highlights rolled on and O'Neal went on: "Takes his tie in the post -- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar right there," he said as Nurkic scored on a big looping hook shot in the lane.

Nurkic had a solid night in his debut at the Moda Center (he's played three road games for Portland since coming over from Denver), finishing 18 points, 12 rebounds, a career-high six assists, a career-high-tying five blocks and two steals.

Ernie Johnson asked the commentators -- O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Barkley -- if team could catch Denver in eighth place and the last playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Barkley answered, "I'll tell you after the game." (But no answer came later.)

The Trail Blazers won, 114-109, and are in ninth place in the standings.