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.
This is a strange story. That rule has been in place for how long now… 10 years? Longer?
Plus, and I guess this was when they first put the rule in place, but guys stepped both feet on the playing floor and got penalized over it. I guess to set the example or something but every player aside from maybe a rare rookie should know this rule.
Longer. 28 years. We’re getting old.
Meanwhile al horford gets a tech for stepping over the line on the inbound. Like that is somehow worse. Makes me sick. Do the crime do the time.
Gary, in the Knicks-Heat series in 1997, the Knicks had five players suspended for leaving the bench area in a brawl between PJ Brown and Charlie Ward. Heat players apparently knew the rule and didn’t leave the bench. Cost the Knicks the series. I’m definitely still bitter about it, lol. The rule was already in place then, not sure when it was instituted but I believe it was the prior season because of brawls getting out of hand (including Knicks-Heat).
It used to be an automatic one game suspension. Apparently they have discretion now.
Oh my goodness time flies. As real 2K suggests above, I’m getting old !! lol
I’m guessing the malice at the palace had something to do with this rule too? Was that before 97? I guess I could look it up but…
Wow !! The malice at the palace was 2004. Seems like it was 100 years ago.
I’m at the point where I don’t know if something happened 10 years ago or 50 years ago.
Oh well, still enjoying Hoops while I can. Sure is nice engaging with you guys who know what you’re talking about and know bball history a little better than I do. Much appreciated !!
Rct,
That was one of the best playoff brawls I’ve ever seen. 12 year old me was laughing at JVG holding back I believe PJ Brown or ‘Zo lmao
@raz427: for sure, those Knicks-Heat games were must-watch. You never knew what was going to happen. Zo and LJ swinging, JVG hanging from Zo’s legs. I was around the same age as you and loved every minute.
I will never forget when the NBA suspended Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw for barely stepping pass the out of bounds line in the playoffs back in 2007. The league has always picked and choosed when to enforce this rule. It can be a bit frustrating.
Right !! If you watch the video, you can see Porter made it halfway into the key area under the basket lol.
Weird
Worked in Michigan during those Bad Boys Piston teams. They knew how to be physical. Example Charles Barkley and Bill Lambeer tussle in 1990. Everybody joined in even my man James Edwards
Yeah, this definitely feeds into the narrative that the NBA cherry picks it’s punishments.