Michael Porter Jr. returned to Denver on Thursday, putting up a season-high 38 points and 10 rebounds in a 107-103 loss to the Nuggets at Ball Arena. The matchup marked Porter’s first visit since the Nuggets traded him to the Brooklyn Nets in a salary move that included a first-round pick for Cam Johnson.
Before tip-off, Porter described the trade as a “win-win” for both teams and expressed no hard feelings toward Denver. “I don’t look back at it with any saltiness toward the organization,” he said, via Clutch Points. “It probably was one of those unique trades where it worked out for everybody.”
Jamal Murray led Denver with 27 points, scoring nine in the final 2:26 to seal the victory. Peyton Watson added 19 points, while Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed seven three-pointers on his way to 25 points, helping the Nuggets snap a three-game home losing streak.
Brooklyn erased a 15-point halftime deficit to trail 79-76 heading into the fourth quarter. Porter’s steal and layup tied the game at 90, and Nolan Traore briefly gave the Nets a lead, but Murray’s late jumper and three-point play secured the win.
Denver improved to 32-16 with the victory, while Brooklyn extended its losing streak to seven games, falling to 12-34. Both teams played without key starters due to injuries, including four missing for the Nuggets and Ziaire Williams sidelined with a calf contusion for Brooklyn.
Porter, drafted 14th overall by Denver in 2018, was honored with a video tribute and received a standing ovation during the first timeout. His performance underscored his scoring and rebounding ability, even as the Nets struggled to hold a late-game lead.
With the Nuggets set to host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, and Brooklyn traveling to Utah, both teams look to rebound from contrasting fortunes. Denver continues to contend for top positioning in the Western Conference, while the Nets face a challenging road to climb out of the league’s bottom tier.
