The Denver Nuggets are coming off a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 2 of their first-round series. After winning Game 1, they lost by a final score of 105-102.

The series now heads back to Los Angeles, where the Nuggets will be looking to reclaim home-court advantage.

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For Game 3, the Nuggets were at risk of not having starting small forward Michael Porter Jr., but head coach David Adelman is optimistic that Porter Jr. will be fine and able to play on Thursday.

Adelman: Nuggets “very optimistic” Michael Porter Jr. (shoulder) will be available to play on Thursday.

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) April 23, 2025

Porter Jr. didn’t have the best Game 1, putting up just three points in 25 minutes, but he bounced back in Game 2, putting up 15 points, including three-pointers, in 33 minutes.

Porter Jr. has often been benched in the clutch for sixth man Russell Westbrook due to Westbrook’s relentless energy, but Porter Jr. is still an integral part of the Nuggets’ success in the playoffs, going back to their championship run two years ago.

He has the height and length to cause problems on the defensive end, but doesn’t quite put it all together on that end consistently. His real calling card is his offense, where he can easily shoot over defenders and knock down big outside shots when needed.

Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets is stripped of the ball driving against Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers in the first quarter during Game One of the First Round. Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets is stripped of the ball driving against Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers in the first quarter during Game One of the First Round. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

While Adelman’s comments suggest it is unlikely, if the Nuggets were to be without Porter Jr., that would mean more minutes of the Russell Westbrook experience.

Westbrook has been up-and-down so far this series. He has been a bit inefficient, hitting 10 shots on 28 attempts, but he has been surprisingly good from three, hitting five of 12 shots.

Westbrook isn’t known for his outside shooting, especially at this point in his career, which often means the defense leaves him open. He has been making the Clippers’ defense pay so far, including a clutch three-pointer in Game 1 that helped send the game into overtime.

Westbrook’s impact is less on the stat sheet, though, and more in his effort plays and momentum-shifting athleticism. For better or for worse, he has made a big impact on this series so far.

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Having Porter Jr. in the fold to not be so reliant on Westbrook and other less proven young guys off the bench is important for the Nuggets.

As a shooter, worrying about a shoulder injury is especially significant, so it will be interesting to keep an eye on Porter Jr. while he plays. If he gets reduced minutes as he did in Game 1, it could be due to a combination of his shoulder injury and his less than ideal energy compared to Westbrook.

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