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Northwest Notes: Gordon, Nuggets, Holmgren, Hardy

May 7th, 2025 at 4:02pm CST by Luke Adams

Nikola Jokic is the Nuggets‘ most valuable player and Jamal Murray is the guy the team is most likely to turn to when it needs a big late-game basket. But Aaron Gordon has earned the nickname “Mr. Nugget” and become one of the most popular players in Denver, writes Tony Jones of The Athletic.

After Gordon made his second game-winning shot of the postseason on Monday against Oklahoma City, interim head coach David Adelman referred to the veteran forward as the “soul” of the team, as did Jokic, according to Bennett Durando of The Denver Post (subscription required).

“He probably doesn’t get as much respect as he deserves,” Jokic said after Denver’s upset victory in Game 1. “But I think he doesn’t need it.”

“He is a Denver Nugget, man,” Adelman said. “He’s a hero again. But I’m looking at the 14 rebounds. I’m looking at the 22 points. I’m looking at the two free throws he made before the (game-winning) three-pointer. I’m looking at the defense he played and the leadership he showed. It’s just really cool to see him have two (playoff) moments that nobody will ever forget.”

As Durando writes in a separate Denver Post story, Gordon’s postseason contributions are all the more impressive due to the fact that he’s risking re-injury after right calf strains cost him 31 regular season games. He has played through soreness in that calf for much of the season, including in the playoffs, per Durando. According to Adelman, the Nuggets likely would’ve been resting Gordon down the stretch if the club hadn’t been fighting for playoff position all the way up to game 82.

“He’s taking a chance every time he explodes and jumps,” Adelman said ahead of Denver’s second-round series. “We know what he’s doing for our team. We know that there’s a risk there.”

We have more from around the Northwest:

According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, there’s a sense in Denver that the club’s unexpected late-season organizational changes – firing head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth – have been a motivating factor for the Nuggets, who are determined to prove they’re not a team in disarray. “I think with (Adelman) at the helm now, people think we’re a wounded animal,” backup center DeAndre Jordan told Amick. “We let go of our coach and our general manager with three games left in the season. I mean, if I were on another team, I would think the same thing, too. But I think this has been a great thing for us to bond together. We’ve become stronger and more resilient.”
It was a tough Game 1 for Chet Holmgren on Monday vs. Denver. The Thunder big man got into foul trouble, missed two late free throws that would’ve put the team up by three points, and was a -14 in his 28 minutes. However, his teammates have full confidence in the 23-year-old’s ability to quickly put that performance behind him, according to Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic. “He’s in there for a reason,” guard Alex Caruso said. “He was in there in Game 3 (of the first round) when he had 25 (points) in the second half when we had the comeback against Memphis. And he was in there late in the game in Game 4 against Memphis to close out that series. We trust him. We believe in him. There’s a reason that (head coach) Mark (Daigneault) puts him out there, and I felt confident when he caught the ball to go shoot the free throws.”
The contract extension that Will Hardy signed with the Jazz earlier this week was in the works for almost a year, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic, who says the organization is very pleased with the way that Hardy has been able to develop young players like Walker Kessler, help Lauri Markkanen become an All-Star caliber player, and handle veterans who have had to spend multiple years on a losing team.

Northwest Notes: Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander, Gobert, Bradds

May 5th, 2025 at 7:49pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Nuggets–Thunder second-round series features a clash between the top two contenders for the Most Valuable Player award, Denver big man Nikola Jokic and Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. But it would be a stretch to call it a showdown, according to Jokic, since they play different positions.

“He’s a very different player,” Jokic said, per Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. “He’s playing on so many levels, speed, as a scorer. Everything looks so easy for him. Even when you are like, ‘Oh, that’s a good defense.’ It feels so easy for him and he’s amazing with a change of speed, change of rhythm, ball-handling. He can post up guys, he can go by guys, his shooting at the mid-range is unguardable basically. He’s a very special player.”

OKC coach Mark Daigneault feels neither player will care to make an individual point in the series.

“I know Shai a lot better than I know Jokic,” Daigneault said. “But I think I know enough to know that neither one of them are going to get distracted by that. Both of them are going to be fully invested in the series. It’s a supplement to the series. But it’s really, it’s not part of the series at all.”

We have more from the Northwest Division:

It’s important for SGA to be well-liked by his teammates and peers beyond just being a superstar player, Jenni Carlson of The Oklahoman writes. “He wants to be one of the greats,” Daigneault said. “He also wants to be one of the guys.”
Minnesota center Rudy Gobert posted 27 points and 24 rebounds against the Lakers in the deciding Game 5 of the series. The Timberwolves big man became the first player with at least 25 points and 20 boards in a series-clinching win on the road since Shaquille O’Neal achieved that for the Heat against the Bulls in 2006, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic relays. “That’s the Rudy that can win you championships,” guard Mike Conley said. “When you have that type of mentality to go get every rebound, go get every block, defend every guy at the rim, we needed that. He came at the biggest moment of our season.”
Will Hardy received a contract extension on Monday but the Jazz will need to replace at least one of his assistants. Assistant coach Evan Bradds has left the organization to join Duke’s staff, according to the school’s basketball social media account (Twitter link).

Nuggets Notes: Coaching & GM Change, Westbrook, Braun, Adelman

May 4th, 2025 at 8:48am CST by Arthur Hill

The Nuggets were headed in the wrong direction when they made the controversial decision to fire head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth with three games remaining in the regular season, writes Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. They had just lost four in a row and were in danger of dropping into the play-in tournament. Now they’re headed to the second round of the playoffs after destroying the Clippers in Saturday’s Game 7, and Nikola Jokic believes the changes paved the way for playoff success.

“I think the owner … wanted to change something, to change the energy, and probably he did,” Jokic said. “He got the result he was looking for.”

Malone and Booth had a contentious relationship for years and were locked in an ongoing battle of basketball philosophies. Malone preferred to rely on experienced players who had earned his trust, while Booth wanted him to give more minutes to the young talent he drafted and signed. Numerous reports stated that their bickering brought a negative energy to the organization, and they were both likely to be let go after the season ended.

“If we don’t make the changes, there’s no way we’re even in a Game 7,” one Nuggets executive told Shelburne.

There’s more from Denver:

Saturday’s victory was satisfying for former Clipper Russell Westbrook, who contributed 16 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals in 27 minutes, Shelburne adds. As they did throughout the series, L.A.’s defenders backed far off Westbrook and dared him to shoot from the outside. He promised after Game 1 to discuss the strategy when the Nuggets “took care of business,” and Saturday night he did. “I think they believed that that was their best bet of stopping me or taking me out of this series,” Westbrook said. “But one thing that nobody knows is that I work my ass off. So regardless of what anybody does, I’m always prepared and I’ll be prepared for anything because I prepare myself for everything. And like I said, after Game 1, if they continue doing it, I’m going to make ’em pay. I don’t know what I shot for the series.” When informed that he made 42% of his three-pointers, he smiled and said, “Damn, that’s solid. I guess it didn’t work out so well for them.”
Christian Braun got a chance to erase the bad memories of last year’s Game 7 loss to Minnesota, notes Luca Evans of The Denver Post. Braun was limited to five points in 19:46 as the Nuggets were eliminated in 2024, but he was crucial to this year’s victory. He played tight defense on James Harden throughout the series, and kept the Nuggets from falling too far behind by scoring nine of their 21 first-quarter points on Saturday. “I wanted to be more,” Braun said, referencing the loss to the Wolves. “And everybody wants to play more. But I just thought that in that game, I felt like I was playing well and wanted to play more minutes. And everybody wants that, everybody in the league wants that, and I got that. That’s exactly what I wanted, and those guys trusted me — they have all year — but they trusted me in that moment. So, this is the exact moment I was looking for.”
The Nuggets should remove head coach David Adelman’s interim tag as soon as their playoff run ends, contends Troy Renck of The Denver Post. Renck states that ownership is leaning toward giving Adelman the job on a permanent basis, and he proved he’s worthy with his performance in the first-round series.

Nuggets Notes: Adelman, Jokic, Porter, Westbrook, Murray

May 3rd, 2025 at 6:13pm CST by Arthur Hill

Nuggets interim head coach David Adelman wasn’t happy with the officiating in Thursday’s Game 6 loss to the Clippers, writes Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. Adelman told reporters that the referees allowed L.A. to be too physical in defending star center Nikola Jokic, who played nearly 42 minutes but attempted just two free throws.

“Nikola gets fouled a lot,” Adelman said. “I’m not sure what was happening tonight, but for him to shoot two free throws with the amount of contact that was going on out there was absolutely crazy.”

The Clippers packed the lane against Denver in the 111-105 victory, which set up today’s series-deciding Game 7. Jokic shot just 2-of-9 in the second half, and Durando notes that he repeatedly passed up open three-pointers to drive into a crowd of defenders, even after the officials made it clear that he wouldn’t be rewarded with a foul call.

Adelman used his post-game media session to start working the refs for Game 7.

“(The Clippers) put smalls on him. Those smalls were allowed to do whatever they want,” he said. “So I’m really excited for Saturday, that we’re gonna be able to do the same thing with their best players. Because if that’s the physicality we’re allowed to play with, we’ll react to it, and we will go there in Game 7.”

There’s more from Denver:

Jokic believes credit for his poor shooting night should go to Clippers center Ivica Zubac, who blocked three shots in Game 6, Durando adds. “He was making me kind of question my shots,” Jokic said. “He was always there. He was really good defensively. … He was moving his feet really good.”
It’s better for the Nuggets if Adelman feels confident closing today’s game with Michael Porter Jr. instead of Russell Westbrook, Durando states in a separate story. Porter has been up and down throughout the series, with Durando pointing out that he was plus-34 in Game 5 and minus-24 in Game 6. Durando adds that Westbrook has been outstanding overall, but he has a history of making crucial mistakes, including a missed layup late in Thursday’s game.
Denver didn’t react well when Clippers coach Tyronn Lue replaced Kris Dunn with Nicolas Batum for the start of the second half Thursday, per Tony Jones of The Athletic. Jamal Murray admits that having an extra shooter on the court disrupted the Nuggets’ defense. “I thought we were unorganized,” he said. “I think that’s the best way to put it. It was frustrating. Some of the turnovers were bad and they hurt us tonight. But I thought they played with a lot more desperation than we did. They came out and played with their backs against the wall. I thought the game came down to a lot of those 50-50 possessions. On Saturday, those are the possessions that we are going to have to take away.”

Poll: Who Will Win Nuggets/Clippers Game 7?

May 2nd, 2025 at 11:36pm CST by Luke Adams

As a result of the Rockets’ win over the Warriors on Friday night, we have two Game 7 matchups on tap for this weekend. Golden State will head to Houston as the Western Conference’s No. 2 and No. 7 seeds battle it out on Sunday for the right to face the Timberwolves in conference semifinals.

But before we get that last showdown between the Rockets and Warriors, we’ll get another Western Conference Game 7, with the Nuggets hosting the Clippers on Saturday for the right to face the Thunder in round two.

The first-round series between the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds in the West has been a back-and-forth affair. After narrowly squeaking past the Clippers in overtime in Game 1, the Nuggets dropped two games in a row, losing Game 3 by 34 points in Los Angeles. The Clippers looked like the heavy favorites at that point, but Denver bounced back with two consecutive wins to reclaim a 3-2 lead before L.A. evened things up with a 111-105 home win on Thursday.

Nikola Jokic has been his usual dominant self for the Nuggets, averaging a triple-double through the team’s first six playoff games and making 50.9% of his shots, including 44.8% of his three-pointers. Jamal Murray has been reliable too, contributing 24.0 points and 6.5 assists with a .482/.432/.938 shooting line.

But Denver lacks depth and its supporting cast has been hit and miss. Starting forward Michael Porter Jr. has been held to seven points or fewer in three separate games, while Christian Braun – a Most Improved Player candidate who averaged 15.4 PPG with a .397 3PT% during the regular season – has seen his postseason marks drop to 11.2 PPG with a .250 3PT%.

While Russell Westbrook has given the Nuggets some good minutes off the bench, they haven’t gotten much from their other reserves — in Denver’s three losses, the non-Westbrook bench players scored a total of 15 points in 95 combined minutes.

The Clippers, meanwhile, have gotten a big boost from a healthy Kawhi Leonard, who has frequently showed the form that helped him earn Finals MVP awards earlier in his career with the Spurs and Raptors. Leonard has averaged 25.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game on .545/.394/.741 shooting.

Los Angeles’ other star, James Harden, has been less consistent. After a 32-point outing in Game 1, he averaged 16.0 points per game on 41.2% shooting through the next four contests before bouncing back with a 28-point showing in Game 6.

The Clippers have gotten what they’ve needed from center Ivica Zubac and swingman Norman Powell, but have had to experiment to find other effective combinations and lineups to complement their top four players. As we detailed earlier on Friday, head coach Tyronn Lue played starting guard Kris Dunn for just 10 minutes and gave Ben Simmons his first DNP-CD of the series in Game 6 in order to improving the club’s offensive spacing.

The change was an effective one — veteran forward Nicolas Batum played a series-high 34 minutes and the Clippers were a +11 when he was on the court. Veteran wings Derrick Jones and Bogdan Bogdanovic also give the team good minutes off the bench.

The oddsmakers at BetOnline.ag currently list the Nuggets as 1.5-point favorites for Saturday’s deciding game, but that’s likely more about the home-court factor than a belief that Denver is the legitimately better team. The Nuggets have a strong track record in the mile-high elevation at Ball Arena, while the Clippers had a 20-21 regular season road record and have lost two of three games in Denver this series.

We want to know what you think. Are you picking the Nuggets or the Clippers to win on Saturday and advance to round two? Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section to share your predictions and thoughts!

Northwest Notes: Porter, Westbrook, Nuggets, Wolves, Thunder

May 1st, 2025 at 8:45pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Nuggets starting forward Michael Porter Jr. and sixth man guard Russell Westbrook have both been removed from the club’s injury report ahead of a critical Game 6 encounter with the Clippers on Thursday night, the team announced (Twitter link).

Westbrook, 36, missed most of Game 3 and all of Game 4 due to a foot injury, while Porter sprained his left shoulder in Game 2, and has been playing through the ailment. L.A., meanwhile is fully healthy.

In the four games he has played, Westbrook has averaged 13.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.8 steals per night off the bench against his former team.

Porter has struggled with consistency in this series, even prior to the shoulder injury. The 26-year-old is averaging 11.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 1.0 APG through his first five outings.

Thanks in large part to terrific play from three-time MVP center Nikola Jokic, guard Jamal Murray — and solid contributions from forward Aaron Gordon and wing Christian Braun — Denver currently boasts a 3-2 advantage over L.A.

There’s more out of the Northwest Division:

The two best Serbian players currently in the NBA, All-Star Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and reserve Clippers guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, are playing each other for the first in the postseason during this Denver-L.A. series. Although they’re friendly now, that wasn’t always the case, as Bennett Durando of The Denver Post details. “We played in preparation games twice, and we played in-season twice. I didn’t like him,” Bogdanovic said with a laugh. “Because he was goofy, and he wasn’t hitting shots. He was just passing. … He could have scored one-on-one and everything. He was toying with (the game). That’s a good word. He was like toying, joking with it.”
Oft-maligned Timberwolves frontcourt stars Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle were singled out by head coach Chris Finch for their contributions in the team’s first-round series win over the Lakers. Finch asserted that Gobert, who finished with a 27-point, 24-rebound double-double in Game 5, deserves more credit for his talent, according to Kris Rhim of ESPN. “Rudy’s a winner at the highest level,” the Wolves’ coach said. “You can not like who he is, how he does it, what he looks like, et cetera. When you have this guy on your team, you understand what a professional and a winner is.” Finch also believes that Randle has been given a bad rap relative to his ability. “I’d also just like to say that Julius Randle was absolutely huge in this series,” he said of the forward (Twitter video link via Michael Scotto of HoopsHype). “Another guy who’s had a lot of unfair criticism in his career. We don’t win this series without Julius.”
Thanks to a brisk four-game sweep of Memphis in the first round, the West’s top-seeded Thunder will enjoy an eight- or nine-day break before their second-round series begins and they plan to make the most of the time off, observes Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic. “We always say, ‘The times in between the games are the days that you have to win in the playoffs,’” All-NBA guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said of the extensive layoff. Oklahoma City will face the winner of the ongoing matchup between the Nuggets and Clippers in the semis. “It’s good, obviously, physically, to rejuvenate,” head coach Mark Daigneault said. “Guys, I’m sure, are dealing with things here and there to get healthy, and it allows ample prep time. I thought we handled it really well, coming out of the regular season, getting ourselves ready to play at the start of (the Memphis) series. We’re going to need to replicate that this week as we wait for that other series to finish.”

Nuggets Notes: Murray, Westbrook, Jokic, Braun

April 30th, 2025 at 10:11am CST by Dana Gauruder

The Nuggets signed Jamal Murray to a four-year, maximum-salary extension before the season. Murray’s offensive outburst on Tuesday showed why Denver felt compelled to make that move, despite the guard’s health issues — his 67 regular-season games were the most he’s played since the 2018/19 season. Murray poured in 43 points as Denver took a 3-2 lead in its series against the Clippers.

“Some of the shots he made tonight were absolutely ridiculous,” Denver interim coach David Adelman said, per Tony Jones of The Athletic. “He’s a special player, and tonight he showed up like the special player he has always been. I thought we did some things to get him loose. The guys screened better, and that gave him some space to work. We got him moving in space and got him on the move. He was born for this.”

We have more on the Nuggets:

Murray wasn’t exactly snubbed during the 2016 draft — he was the No. 7 overall pick. However, he has drawn extra motivation from matching up against Kris Dunn, the No. 5 pick in the same draft, according to Bennett Durando of the Denver Post. Murray confirmed it’s “one hundred percent” accurate that he draws extra motivation from such matchups. “It’s not about making it personal. It’s just, you know, it goes for anybody. Not just (Dunn),” he said. “But it’s just a competitive spirit. It’s like I said, I like the challenge, and I like to give a challenge, too.”
Russell Westbrook, returning from a foot injury, played an underrated role in the Game 5 win, Troy Renck of the Denver Post writes. After two games in which the reserves provided little production, Westbrook scored 21 points in 25 minutes and gave the team a much-needed energy boost. “He’s coming in hitting threes, playing defense, doing so many things on the court,” Murray said. “We are going to need more of that. I like when he’s being aggressive, and I am not the only one yelling at the crowd. It’s nice to have somebody else like that.”
Denver recorded a lopsided victory despite a 13-point night from Nikola Jokic. The attention the former MVP drew helped several other offensive players thrive, according to Luca Evans of the Denver Post. “Holding Joker to 13 points and losing the game is tough,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “But, that’s how he beats you. If you worry about him too much, other guys can beat you.”
James Harden has been held to a combined 26 points over the last two games with Christian Braun serving as the primary defender against the Clippers’ veteran guard, Tyler King of the Denver Gazette notes. “They’ve made their mind up they’re gonna try to take him out of the series after the first two or three games,” Lue said. “They’re doing a good job. I gotta do a better job of just finding ways to get him open to get him space. Probably more (isolation) because they’re blitzing so much to try to get him to his spots.”

Michael Porter Jr. Won’t Be Suspended For Game 5

April 29th, 2025 at 1:03pm CST by Luke Adams

Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. won’t face a suspension for leaving the bench area during an altercation that took place in Game 4 of the team’s series vs. the Clippers, a league spokesperson confirmed to Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter link) and Bennett Durando of The Denver Post (subscription required).

As we outlined on Saturday night, Porter left the bench and came onto the court when Nuggets and Clippers players began to push and shove one another just before halftime after James Harden took exception to a reach-in foul committed by Christian Braun near the half-court line (Twitter video link via Joey Linn of SI).

Porter apologized after the game and explained that he didn’t know about the NBA’s rule that prohibits players who aren’t in the game from leaving the “immediate vicinity” of the bench area during an on-court altercation.

As Ramona Shelburne of ESPN tweets, the rule states that a player can be subject to a one-game suspension and a fine of up to $50K, but the league takes into account “the distance the player traveled from his team’s bench, and the extent to which he entered the immediate proximity of the altercation.” Porter didn’t go far before he was pulled back by an assistant coach and didn’t come close to entering the fray.

Porter was held out of Denver’s closing lineup in Game 1 of the first-round series, injured his shoulder in Game 2, and was a -25 in 35 minutes during a Game 3 blowout loss. However, the veteran forward played an important role in the Nuggets’ Game 4 win, which evened the series at 2-2, scoring 17 points and making four three-pointers in 42 minutes.

Porter is still listed on the injury report due to his left shoulder sprain, but is considered probable to play on Tuesday. Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook, who missed Saturday’s contest with left foot inflammation, is questionable.

Stephen Curry Named 2024/25 Teammate Of The Year

April 28th, 2025 at 12:22pm CST by Luke Adams

Warriors star Stephen Curry has been named the NBA’s Teammate of the Year for the 2024/25 season, the league announced today (via Twitter).

The Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award “recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment to his team,” per the NBA.

The award isn’t voted on by media members. A panel of league executives select the 12 finalists (six from each conference) for the award, while current players vote on the winner. Players receive 10 points for a first place vote, seven for second, five for third, three for fourth, and one point for fifth place.

Curry just narrowly won this season’s vote ahead of Rockets center Steven Adams.

Here are this season’s full voting results, according to the NBA, with the player’s point total noted in parentheses:

Stephen Curry, Warriors (1,257)
Steven Adams, Rockets (1,237)
Jalen Brunson, Knicks (925)
DeAndre Jordan, Nuggets (897)
Nicolas Batum, Clippers (868)
Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers (850)
Al Horford, Celtics (834)
James Johnson, Pacers (751)
Jaylin Williams, Thunder (690)
Brook Lopez, Bucks (657)
Tobias Harris, Pistons (648)
Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies (552)

It’s the first Teammate of the Year award for Curry, though it’s the seventh time in a row that a point guard has earned the honor.

The award, which was introduced in ’12/13, had gone to either Mike Conley (2019 and 2024) or Jrue Holiday (2020, 2022, and 2023) in five of the past six seasons, with Damian Lillard claiming it in 2021.

Nuggets Notes: Gordon, Adelman, Porter, Westbrook

April 26th, 2025 at 11:02pm CST by Arthur Hill

After letting a 22-point fourth quarter lead slip away, the Nuggets turned Saturday’s Game 4 against the Clippers into an instant classic, writes Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. Nikola Jokic‘s desperation three-pointer was badly off target, but Aaron Gordon was able to catch the ball in the air and dunk it with a tenth of a second left on the clock (Twitter video link from the NBA), giving Denver a 101-99 win that ties the series at 2-2.

“Air balls are really hard to defend against,” Gordon said. “I was just in the right place at the right time.”

Officials took a long look at video replays before determining that the game-winning shot counted. Referee Zach Zarba said in a pool report interview that the ball had to be fully out of Gordon’s hand before the buzzer sounded and the red light went on. Frame-by-frame analysis showed that it was, but just barely.

“That (game) is going to be on NBA TV someday,” interim coach David Adelman said. “… I’m glad it’ll be on Nuggets day and not Clippers day.”

There’s more on the Nuggets:

With Russell Westbrook unavailable due to inflammation in his left foot, Adelman leaned heavily on his starters in Game 4, Durando adds in the same piece. Jokic, Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., Jamal Murray and Christian Braun all played at least 42 minutes and no reserve saw more than 13. “Trying to find breaks at the right time. Using the TV timeouts as best we can,” Adelman said in outlining his strategy before the game. “You hate to use timeouts to rest players, but sometimes you have to do that in these games. … It’s Game 4. We’re down 2-1. Our main people, they’re gonna roll. They’re gonna play a lot.”
Six technical fouls were handed out in an altercation shortly before halftime (Twitter video link from Bleacher Report), but no one was ejected, per Law Murray and Tony Jones of The Athletic. Porter briefly left the bench area and ran onto the court before an assistant coach pulled him back, which means he could face a one-game suspension and a fine of up to $50K. “Sorry. I didn’t know the specific rule. I’m glad I didn’t make it very far,” Porter said (Twitter video link from Clippers beat writer Joey Linn). “… To see my guys get in it like that, I’m just glad I didn’t make it very far. The coaches and my teammates were aware. Because I wasn’t fully aware of any type of rule, but I’m very thankful that I did not get tossed from this game or anything like that. Definitely a learning experience for sure.”
Westbrook was noncommittal when asked about his status for Tuesday’s Game 5, tweets Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. After calling it a “trick question,” Westbrook’s only comment was, “I’ll be in the building.”