Porter Jr. shines for Nuggets despite shoulder injury

DENVER—Michael Porter Jr. has been dealing with the challenges of a sprained left shoulder for nearly three weeks. This injury has effectively rendered him a one-armed player during the playoffs. Despite this, Porter has been pushing through the pain and has not been able to remove his uniform by himself since the injury.

His left A.C. joint was sprained during a scramble for a loose ball in Round 1 against the Los Angeles Clippers on April 22. The situation has affected his shooting form, as he struggles to guide his jump-shot with his left hand. Rebounding with both hands is also a difficulty, and he often grimaces when the ball is passed to his left side.

Adding to his troubles, Porter revealed that on the night of his injury, the brace on his left foot broke. This posed an issue since he relies on the brace to manage a condition known as “dropped foot,” a complication from previous back surgeries.

Despite these challenges, Porter gave an impressive performance during Denver’s 113-104 Game 3 overtime win against the Oklahoma City Thunder. This was especially crucial given Nikola Jokic’s off-night.

“Playing through it could slow the healing process, but it’s not dangerous to continue,” Porter explained. “The team trusts me to help space the floor, assist my teammates, contribute on rebounds, and defend as hard as I can, while also being prepared to hit open shots.”

With his shoulder heavily taped and numbed with Lidocaine, Porter rose to the challenge. He scored 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting, which included hitting 5 of 6 from beyond the arc. Additionally, he secured eight rebounds, with seven on the defensive end, to counter Oklahoma City’s aggressive play.

“When they launch the ball, it feels like everyone is in the paint,” commented Nuggets interim coach David Adelman. “You’ve got to win those scrambles, and sometimes, you win those 50-50 battles on defense because it controls the pace and sets up our offensive plays.”

Porter’s contributions helped keep the game close until Aaron Gordon’s late 3-point shot tied the game, pushing it into overtime. Denver then outpaced Oklahoma City 9-2 in the extra period.

Porter had been visibly frustrated after being limited to just 10 points total in the initial two games in Oklahoma City, where he went 3 for 18 from the field.

“It was a tough start, but I felt a bit more like myself tonight,” Porter remarked. “Playing to a high level in the playoffs has been challenging.”

Doctors have advised that a sprained AC joint typically takes four to six weeks for adequate recovery. Nonetheless, Porter was determined to play despite knowing it would limit his performance and potentially affect his playing time.

“Going into each game, I knew there might be times when I couldn’t perform to my full potential or play as much as I’d like,” said Porter. “But it’s the playoffs, and I wanted to give it everything I’ve got. It’s been a rollercoaster for me, but that’s okay because we’re doing well as a team.”

The Nuggets now have the opportunity to secure a 3-1 series lead with a win on Sunday afternoon at Ball Arena.

“When he first got injured, I thought, ‘He’s really going to keep playing through this?’” teammate Jamal Murray shared. “Not many see just how much he’s dealt with throughout his career. It’s a testament to his toughness, passion for the game, and desire to win.”