The Denver Nuggets escaped with an overtime win against the Los Angeles Clippers in their NBA playoff opener, but the game raised more concerns than answers—especially regarding the underwhelming performance of Michael Porter Jr., who received some pointed postgame remarks from Nikola Jokic.
Porter’s lack of offensive production was a major issue, particularly given that he took only four shot attempts in all of Game 1. When asked about his teammate’s effort after the win, three-time NBA MVP and Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic didn’t mince words.
“If you’re not going to be engaged right now, then you’re not supposed to be playing this sport,” Jokic said, via Brendan Vogt of DNVR Nuggets. Jokic was direct in his criticism, underscoring that more is expected from Porter—especially in the playoffs, where he’s considered one of Denver’s key offensive weapons.
In the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Porter is averaging 15.8 points per game on 46.6% shooting from the field and 40.7% from beyond the arc. During the 2024–25 regular season, he posted a career-high.
Denver’s overtime adjustment pays off
Porter finished with just three points in 26 minutes against the Clippers. Due to his struggles, head coach David Adelman opted to keep him on the bench during overtime. Instead, veteran guard Russell Westbrook—coming off the bench himself—played the entire extra period and made his minutes count.
Despite shooting just 5-for-17 from the field, Westbrook tallied 15 points and delivered a crucial defensive stop late in overtime, sealing the win for Denver. The decision to trust Westbrook in crunch time ultimately proved to be the right move.
Jokic dominates game 1
While Porter faltered, Jokic reminded everyone why he’s the heart of the franchise. The Serbian big man led the Nuggets with 29 points on 12-of-24 shooting, while also contributing 12 assists, nine rebounds, three steals, and a block in 46 minutes. As always, the Nuggets will go as far as Jokic takes them—but he’ll need consistent help if Denver is to make another deep playoff run.