Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. suffered a joint sprain in his left shoulder during the Game 2 loss against the Los Angeles Clippers, which could have serious consequences on the outcome of this first-round playoff series. The injury setback is a major blow for a top-heavy Nuggets lineup that relied heavily on their front seven over the course of the season.
The Nuggets series vs. the Clippers is one of the toughest to call, with both teams evenly matched. The 2023 champions have three-time MVP Nikola Jokić on their side, but the red-hot Clippers finished with an eight-game win streak to close out the regular season (they won 15 of their last 17).
In a balanced series, Denver fans will be hoping to have Porter back as soon as possible.
Michael Porter Jr. Reacts to Injury Setback After Game 2 Defeat
After a slender 112-110 victory in the opening game, the Nuggets knew they would be tested in Game 2 at Ball Arena.
The game went down to the wire, with a key moment coming with 1:40 left on the clock and the game tied at 100. Porter recorded a huge rebound but almost immediately turned the ball over.
Attempting to make up for the mistake, the forward dived to recover the ball, which led to Clippers guard Kris Dunn landing on his shoulder. Porter was visibly shaken as he held his left shoulder before gradually picking himself back up.
Following the defeat, Porter said, “I made a stupid play after I got the rebound and tried to make up for it, and somebody landed on my shoulder,” Porter shared. “I never felt anything like this in my shoulder. But it’s good, though. It’s just a joint sprain, so it’s nothing too serious. So hopefully I can do what I can to heal it up.”
MPJ says he has a joint sprain, “never felt a pain like this.” Said he came because he made a dumb play.
Porter is unsure if he’ll play Game 3. pic.twitter.com/7tXbJS0si4
— Jake Shapiro (@Shapalicious)
Per the Denver Post, Porter also added the following update.
“I’ve never experienced a pain like this in my shoulder area. I’ve had rolled ankles, so I know what I can play through with that. I’ve never had this.” Porter left the court shortly after the incident, with Russell Westbrook replacing him.
The turnover from Porter turned out to be costly, with the Clippers punishing the Nuggets’ late-game mistakes. A strong outing from Kawhi Leonard, combined with a string of turnovers from the home team, saw the Clippers come away with a thrilling 105-102 win to even the series. Porter even apologized for the turnover.
“I felt like it was on me for that turnover,” he said after the game. “I feel like if I had just, I thought, you know, I thought I had two guys streaking down, so I was trying to get it out and advance it up, but I didn’t, so then I turned it over. I just felt like that was the biggest turnover game. Every game is so serious in the playoffs, I had to tell my guys my fault; that was my mistake.”
Take away his late-game error, and Porter had a tremendous game. He contributed 15 points, 15 rebounds, a steal, and an assist on the night and shot a solid 6-for-11 from the field.
It’s unclear whether the talented forward will be available for Game 3, but losing Porter would be a massive blow for the Nuggets. He’s been one of the team’s most consistent players this year. No player had as many starts as Porter this season (77), and he ranks fourth on Denver’s roster with 33.7 minutes per game.
