Michael Porter Jr. stays hot, lead nuggets to fifth equal victory

Coach Michael Malone wants Michael Porter Jr. have to shoot early and often.

So he did.

Porter scored 30 points on 11-of-16 shooting in the Nuggets’ 112-90 win over the offensively challenged Orlando Magic on Thursday night at the Ball Arena.

“He is one of the best shooters in the league and has one of the most beautiful jump shots I’ve ever seen,” Malone said before the game. “He’s an artist out there, and when he’s open, we want him to let it fly.”

It was Porter’s third equal 30-point game-first time in his career he scored 30 in three equal. He scored 36 against New Orleans on Monday night and tied a career mound with 39 against New Orleans on Wednesday night. He went again on Thursday despite sitting out in the fourth quarter. Porter was 5 of 8 on 3-Pointers and pulled seven rebounds in.

Despite his 30-point Trifecta, Porter insists that he is just a gear in Denver’s offensive machine. But with the guards Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook out with injuries, Porter said he has been more aggressive looking for his shot.

“I shoot the shots that I want to shoot,” he said. “We have too much talent on this team to try to force things. When I get started, I can shoot those harder and beat some of them. “

Nikola Jokic (28 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists) noted his NBA-Best 24. Triple double in the season.

Nuggets’ total numbers are looking pretty right now. They have won five games in a row and match their season high. They are 8-3 in their last 11 games and improved to 10-1 in the second of back-to-back games. Denver conducted New Orleans, 144-119, Wednesday night at Ball.

Nuggets moved into third place in the western conference after spending more than a month on the fourth.

“We started the season 11-10, and since then we are 21-9,” Malone said before the game. “We have played much better basketball and much more consistent basketball. Obviously, we are far from being where we want to be, but throughout the season guys have shown what they are capable of. “

Murray, the starting point guard, sat out due to inflammation in his left knee. Given their recent schedule, the team decided to get Murray from his feet were wise. Russell has been sidelined by a hamstring injury.

With Murray out, Jokic and Porter formed a dynamic duo, and it was clearly Porter’s teammates were looking to feed him the ball. Porter said his two-man games with Jokic are starting to find a rhythm.

“It’s been so fun to watch Michael have these breakout games,” Malone said. “I said it a few days ago, ‘We don’t win a championship (in 2023) without Michael Porter Jr.’ He has been such an important, integral part of our team and what we are trying to achieve. “

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Denver, who played his third game on four nights, looked a little tongue -legged early, and its violation was uneven in large parts of the first half against Magic’s physical defense. But Denver’s defense was just as robust and kept the magic for 40% shooting (including only 3 of 13 on 3-Pointers) as Denver took a 59-50 lead.