One mistake can flip an entire playoff series. During last night’s Clippers vs Nuggets clash, Michael Porter Jr. might have made that one unfortunate error. With the score tied, Tied at 102, Porter snagged Kawhi’s miss and sprinted—only to fumble into Gordon’s back. However, Gordon’s back was turned, which led to MPJ fumbling the rock and committing a turnover. Not only did he lose possession, but Porter’s Hail Mary dive for the loose ball led to him injuring his shoulder.

As Porter writhed on the hardwood, Norman Powell sank a go‑ahead triple, sealing Denver’s defeat to give his team the lead and eventual victory. After the brutal loss, MPJ reflected on his mistake and addressed the hurt shoulder, “I made a stupid play after I got the rebound and trying to make up for it, and just someone landed on my shoulder. I never felt something like this in my shoulder.”

While Michael has dealt with several injuries during his career, last night’s blow was a new experience. And certainly not a good one. “Yeah, I never experienced a pain like this in my shoulder area. You know I’ve had like rolled ankles, so I know what I can play through with that.” He remarked. But despite the agonizing pain, the forward is optimistic about his health moving forward, “It’s good, though. It’s just a joint sprain, so it’s nothing too serious. So, hopefully I can do what I can do to heal it up… I’ve never had this, but luckily, it’s on my left side, not my right side. So, that’s good.”

Fortunately, MPJ’s shooting hand is still intact, which is a major weapon in his arsenal. Even last night, he scored 15 points and drained two big three-pointers. So, it’s positive news for the Nuggets. However, there are other concerning issues bothering the young forward.

Michael Porter Jr. reveals “behind the scenes” issues hurting his game amid Clippers’ series

While his shoulder does not seem like a big problem for MPJ, he revealed some glaring concerns that have been bothering him lately, “I’m a mentally strong person, so I’m pretty resilient, I think. I was just trying to be more ready to go today… I’m dealing with some stuff behind the scenes that has been affecting the way I play, like some physical stuff, with my shoes and the brace that I wear, that’s been bothering me.”

Yes, MPJ has dealt with ankle issues throughout his career, which is why he plays with a brace on. But it looks like the added equipment and the injuries in general have begun affecting his psyche. “I’ve been thinking too much while I’ve been playing the last few games of the regular season and the first game, but tonight I just tried to compete.” He added, detailing his struggles.

Although Porter showed great promise last night, dropping a 15-point double-double, his late-game mistake proved costly for his team. Hopefully, he will be able to get over that blunder and focus on the games ahead because the Nuggets need him to be in top form to win. During their title run two years ago, MPJ played a key role, averaging 13.4 points and over eight rebounds. Do you think he can overcome his struggles and have the same impact this year?