Late in Monday’s Game 2 defeat, Denver Nuggets star forward Michael Porter Jr. found himself in a make-or-break situation. He ended up injuring his left, non-shooting shoulder when he made a diving catch on the last play of the game. Sadly, this incident would prove to be yet another blow to a team that was already deeply disadvantaged by injuries. Porter Jr. battled through extreme pain and finished the game. The All-Star was ice cold on Thursday, shooting 2-of-9 and just 1-of-7 from beyond the arc, in the process grabbing seven boards.
Porter Jr. had a hard time staying effective on the court. You could see him very pointedly drag his left arm as he sprinted back and forth, and his pain was evident. After the game, he voiced his concerns on whether or not he’d be ready for Saturday’s Game 4. Physicians informed him that the standard recovery period for his type of injury is four to five weeks.
I wish it was faster. I really don’t care to revisit this one—in more ways than one.
- Christian Braun
There’s no doubt that Porter Jr.’s injury derailed what would have had a good shot at being a historic performance. It produced a pronounced disparity in three-point shooting between the Nuggets and their opponents. As Denver’s most dangerous three-point shooter, he needed to be an X-factor. Yet, his lack of skills greatly impacted the team’s overall strategy and efficacy from beyond the arc.
Even with the gravity of such a situation, Porter Jr. showed a great inclination to aid his team’s efforts in future slate of games. He spoke to the pain he went through on two of those off-days when he couldn’t get his arm above shoulder-height. Still, he indicated a willingness to attempt playing in Game 4, hoping to provide a much-needed lift for his teammates.
He warned that if pain was preventing him from being an effective part of the team, he would opt out of competing. His teammates, including Aaron Gordon, referred to him as a “warrior.” Elbow shooting pain aside, this beautifully illustrates Porter Jr.’s never back down mindset and guts.
- Michael Porter Jr.
The Nuggets aren’t under any less pressure, though, facing their own wave of injuries. Porter Jr.’s health is particularly crushing their chances at making a deep, successful playoff run. His shooting percentage doesn’t even begin to tell the story of how important he is to the record live inspection story of UNC’s offense. The cast and crew couldn’t be more excited for Game 4. They need to ask themselves if Porter Jr. can play a big role for them or if health will keep him sidelined from this one.
The Nuggets face mounting pressure as they navigate these injuries, with Porter Jr.’s condition particularly weighing heavily on their playoff aspirations. His performance is crucial not just for scoring but for setting up plays and creating opportunities for teammates. As the team looks forward to Game 4, they will need to assess whether Porter Jr. can be an asset or if his health will keep him sidelined.
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