Michael Porter Jr. Takes Blame for Nuggets’ Playoff Struggles

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA — Michael Porter Jr. is taking responsibility for the Denver Nuggets‘ 3-2 series deficit against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals. After a tough 112-105 loss on Tuesday night, he expressed his disappointment in his performance while speaking to The Denver Post.

“We’ve played well enough to win the last two games,” Porter said. “A lot of the reason we lost is because I’m not helping contribute. And that’s tough. I’m looking at myself individually and how I can try to help the team win, because I haven’t been doing that.”

Porter, 26, struggled in both Games 4 and 5. Over the two games, he scored only five points on 1-of-7 shooting from the field and missed all five of his three-point attempts. In Game 5, he managed just two points and had four rebounds alongside two assists.

The Nuggets had a chance to tie the game late in the fourth quarter, but Porter’s three-point attempt with just over a minute remaining missed the mark. His second attempt shortly after was an airball, further compounding the disappointment for him and the team.

Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, who scored 44 points in the loss, spoke about Porter’s struggles. “Nobody wants to miss shots, of course, and he’s probably one of the best shooters in the league,” Jokic said. “He needs to keep shooting. We want him to take a shot.”

Porter is dealing with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder, an injury that has limited his effectiveness since the playoffs began. Despite this, he remains focused on bouncing back. “They always have my back, but they want to win as well,” Porter said. “If I’m gonna go out there and play, then I need to help contribute.”

The Nuggets will have another opportunity to extend their playoff run in Game 6 on Thursday. Porter understands the magnitude of the situation, stating, “We can’t lose hope until there’s no hope to be had.”