DENVER — Michael Porter Jr.’s return to Denver was a perfect encapsulation of the trade that sent him from the Nuggets to the Nets. Everybody won, except Brooklyn, who is trying to lose.
Porter recorded a 38-point, 10-rebound double-double in an emotional night back in the Mile High City, where he was just a single make from setting a new career-high for scoring. He took the most shots of his 458-game NBA career with 28, which was needed for a Nets group that didn’t have a single scorer tally over a dozen.
“There was a little motivation; we should have pulled it out, though,” Porter said after the game. “I didn’t really care about the 40-piece I wanted to get the season sweep.”
Porter had three chances at tying his career high and giving the Nets a big chance to win — but he missed all those buckets, allowing Jamal Murray to out-clutch the Nets for a 107-103 win. MPJ went 2-for-7 in the fourth quarter while Murray made his last three shots and three free throws for nine points in the game’s final 2:26.
“Just had to make tough shots for us,” David Adelman said. “He has it in him, not scared of it. And it’s so nice to have a guy like that, where you can just call up a matchup and let him do his thing.
The Nuggets were buoyed by a hot shooting night from Tim Hardaway Jr., who tied his season high with scene makes from distance. He also collected eight rebounds and was a game-best plus-21 on the floor.
“We needed it,” Adelman said. “The power of confidence is amazing; that’s what Tim is. He’s a pro, you see the work he puts in and it gives the coach a lot of trust for him to go ahead and let that thing go… another outstanding night for a guy who should be up for Sixth Man of the Year.”
Denver got out to a 19-point lead in the first half, but a 22-6 run eventually pulled Brooklyn to tie the game. Denver again struggled to score in the second half, a familiar story as of late in this shorthanded stretch.
“It’s instead of all the movie, let’s go, let’s go and all that crap. It’s more like, all right, what can we do better to flip this, opposed to the ra-ra stuff,” Adelman said. “There’s a responsibility to leadership as a team and our guys have been great all year.”
Even with the struggles the Nuggets did enough to allow Murray a chance to take over, securing the team their 10th win in 16 games without three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Denver expects him and some others back before the coming All-Star Break.
What’s next for the Nuggets?
The Nuggets are right back tomorrow, hosting the hottest team in the NBA, the Los Angeles Clippers. They wrap up a four-game homestand with their first matchup of the season against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.
