The Denver Nuggets could have easily won Game 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nikola Jokic dropped 44 points and grabbed 15 boards in what was a very competitive game. Until the 4th quarter, that is. OKC ran away with the game in the final 12, scoring 34, compared to the Nuggets’ 19. And one of the players who had a terrible Game 5 against Oklahoma was Michael Porter Jr.
Michael scored only 2 points in the 29 minutes he played, shooting at a dreadful 14.3%. But now, in Game 6, the Nuggets are facing potential elimination. And they need him more than ever. So, let’s have a look at the Nuggets’ injury report and see if MPJ will be on the court tonight to redeem himself in Game 6.
Denver Nuggets Injury Report – Will Michael Porter Jr. play tonight?
Let’s cut to the chase, so far, there aren’t any reports of Michael Porter Jr getting injured ahead of Game 6. Nor is he present on the Nuggets’ injury report. Meaning, barring any unforeseen developments, Michael Porter Jr. is AVAILABLE for the Nuggets’ upcoming game. And we’re sure he’ll relish the opportunity to show his home fans what he’s capable of.
Jan 12, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) dunks the ball ahead of New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) in the fourth quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
But MPJ being injury-free doesn’t mean the same for everyone on the Nuggets roster. DaRon Holmes II is OUT of the upcoming game. Holmes suffered a torn Achilles earlier in the season. And even though it’s been surgically repaired since, the road to recovery is long and difficult.
Alongside him, Hunter Tyson is the final player on the report turned in by the Nuggets. He’s listed as OUT with a sprained right ankle. He has played a combined 21 minutes across 4 Playoff games this postseason. So, his absence won’t be felt too much by Denver.
All in all, the Denver Nuggets are in quite a good position injury-wise heading into the elimination game against the Thunder. But Michael Porter Jr. needs to step up.
Can Michael Porter Jr. bring the heat in Game 6?
Michael Porter Jr. scored 21 points in Game 3 against the Thunder. It was the team’s most recent victory in this series. His points contributed heavily to that win, as the Nuggets held their opponents to only 2 points during overtime.
And Michael himself is aware that the Nuggets could have done the same thing in Games 4 and 5. But he sees himself as one of the primary reasons his team dropped the ball in those games. “We’ve played well enough to win the last two games. A lot of the reason we lost is because I’m not helping contribute…I’m looking at myself individually and how I can try to help the team win, because I haven’t been doing that. I haven’t been contributing in any way right now,” said the 26-year-old forward.
Jan 1, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) finishes off a basket in the second quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Now, it’s not right to put the blame squarely on him. Denver’s bench didn’t do the best job in those games either. But one thing is clear as day. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray need help against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and co. If players like Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon can step up at home in Game 6, the Nuggets may have this one in the bag.
And with a win in Game 6, they can get a step closer to redemption. And not just for MPJ. It’s a chance for Denver to redeem itself against the team that bounced them last year — the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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