In a quest for history, Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. couldn’t be denied.
Entering Thursday’s matchup against the New York Knicks, Porter only needed three 3-pointers to set the franchise’s single-season record. The way Porter’s been shooting of late, it felt as if it was only a matter of time during Denver’s 113-100 victory inside Ball Arena.
With 38 seconds left in the second quarter, forward Aaron Gordon drove to the free throw line before passing to Porter, who drained a contested step-back 3-pointer. Later in the third, Porter caught a pass from Nikola Jokic before draining a 3 to extend Denver’s lead to 10 points.
As the Nuggets began pulling away from the Knicks in the fourth, Gordon once again found Porter on the wing, where the sharpshooter knocked down his 193rd 3-pointer of the season, surpassing former Denver small forward Dale Ellis (192) on the franchise’s all-time list.
“Even when (Porter) is not hot, it seems like he is going to make every shot,” said veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. “For him to continue to shoot with that confidence is great for him and us.”
Porter went to Cabo San Lucas during the All-Star break. He returned a completely different player.
In Denver’s last 15 games, Porter has averaged 21.1 points while shooting 56.7% from the floor and 43.9% from the 3-point line. He’s scored at least 25 points in six games during that stretch, including a 31-point effort against the Knicks that saw him catch fire immediately.
Porter scored eight points in the first quarter on 3-for-3 shooting. When the buzzer sounded at the end of the second quarter, Porter was one of three Nuggets players in double figures, with 15 points without a single miss in six shots.
Porter, who entered the fourth having just missed one shot attempt, scored 16 points in the second half and finished 13 for 16 from the floor.
With Porter playing some of the best basketball of his career, Nuggets coach Michael Malone won’t hesitate to send him back to Cabo if that’s what it takes to unlock his current shooting form.
“I told him just now, ‘Go to Cabo whenever you want. I’ll pay for it,’” Malone joked.
Of course, Porter attributes his recent hot streak to more than just a vacation destination. What those other factors are, however, he chooses to keep to himself.
For Porter, the 3-point record is more than a testament to his marksmanship. It shows that he has been available on a daily basis. Porter has played and started in a career-high 68 games this season, as he has more confidence in his body after three back surgeries had him in and out of the lineup for most of his career. “That’s what I’m more proud of,” he said.
With Porter’s health and confidence at an all-time high, he has embraced being more physical, whether that’s driving aggressively to the basket or going after rebounds. Against the Knicks, Porter was 10 for 10 on 2-point attempts.
“Teams are running me off and getting to my pull-up,” Porter said. “It’s not like I’m consciously doing it. The more games you play in the league, you grow.”
On Thursday, Porter’s performance embodied swagger. Up by two points in the third quarter, he was positioned at the free throw line when he leaned in, threw the ball off the backboard, and then threw down a one-handed dunk.
“That’s a hell of a play to do in a live basketball game. You don’t see that very often,” Malone said. “…(Porter is) not just a jump shooter. He’s shown he can get downhill and finish in traffic. Michael is firing on all cylinders.”
MPJ GOES SELF OOP 😮💨
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