Denver Nuggets: Michael Porter Jr. showing his time is now

When Jamal Murray went down last week, Denver Nuggets fans knew the course of this season would be significantly altered. Without Murray, Denver’s electric second scorer and emotional leader, the tide suddenly shifted to Michael Porter Jr. to support MVP candidate Nikola Jokic in salvaging the season.

Gone are the Nuggets’ legitimate championship hopes, but not the opportunity for playoff success and a launching pad for Murray’s return in 2021-22. For Porter, the light has never been greener. And he’s accepted this challenge in a prominent manner.

Since Jamal Murray’s season-ending ACL tear, the Denver Nuggets have posted a 4-0 record. Michael Porter Jr.’s breakout run is a big reason for it.

Since Murray’s season-ending ACL tear, Denver’s posted a 4-0 record, dispensing opponents by an average margin of 12.3 points.

Jokic has been phenomenal. Yet, stepping up right behind him is Porter, averaging 21.0 points per game in this stretch, while shooting 61.5 percent from the field and 52.0 percent from deep.

However, this isn’t Porter’s first time assuming the second scorer role, even within the month of April. Right before the devastating ACL tear, Murray missed four games with soreness in his other knee. Porter provided a lift during this stretch, averaging 21.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per contest while shooting 51.5 percent from the field.

By this point, Porter’s proven himself a capable bucket-getter in that second scorer spot, helping Denver attain a 7-1 record during Murray’s eight missed games in April.

Yet, Porter is more than simply a fill-in option, as he’s projected to join Jokic and Murray as one of the league’s best big-3 combinations next season.

Porter has broken out as a lethal scorer this season, and his Kevin Durant-like efficiency is perhaps the most exciting aspect. Porter has shot 50 percent or greater in a jaw-dropping 25 of the past 27 games, a stretch in which he’s averaging 20.6 points per contest.

Looking at the month-by-month breakdown, Porter has posted an unworldly volume-efficiency combination in the past two months. He’s averaging 21.4 points per contest on 56.0 percent shooting in April, following a March in which he averaged 20.3 points per game on 59.4 percent from the field.

It’s an accomplishment to shoot a high percentage in limited volume, but most players see a dip once tasked with a heavier scoring burden. The fact Porter has shot efficiently for a prolonged stretch is a promising sign that he possesses the coveted ability to score in bunches at a high shooting clip.

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Although the Denver Nuggets sorely miss Murray, Porter faces a great opportunity to refine himself throughout Murray’s absence and emerge as a polished offensive talent who can help Denver chase the 2021-22 championship.

As this season’s playoffs approach, the odds are stacked against Denver. The squad is currently slotted to play the Los Angeles Lakers in a 4-5 matchup, a series that likely won’t break in the Nuggets’ favor.

Porter is playing well, but the postseason is a different brand that’s often challenging for younger players. He’ll likely have his moments, but the LeBron-led, defensively-dominant Los Angeles Lakers present a daunting task.

Denver’s best path involves avoiding this matchup, and targeting a series with…really, any other team. This allows the Jokic-Porter tandem to potentially lead the Nuggets to a first-round victory for the third straight season.

Heroes can emerge in the playoffs, and the Denver Nuggets face significantly less pressure this year, as they’re already considered down and out by most. If Porter rises to the occasion and leads Denver to any postseason success, this will be significant in his rise to stardom.

Murray’s injury is a worst-nightmare-come-true scenario for the Nuggets. Yet, Porter has a chance to improve during this time, priming himself as a rock-solid contributor for Denver’s future championship quests.