The Brooklyn Nets played without their leading scorer, Michael Porter Jr., on Saturday as he sat out their 129-110 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Porter was a healthy scratch for personal reasons.
Sources close to the team and the player indicated that the situation is believed to be resolved and that Porter is not expected to miss extended time. Nets coach Jordi Fernández stated that the team wanted to give Porter his privacy and that everything was fine.
Initially listed as questionable, Porter was ruled out approximately one hour before tipoff. Fernández explained that a personal situation arose as the team was arriving at the arena, leading to the late announcement.
Porter is averaging a team-high 21.5 points per game this season, shooting 45.6 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range. An Eastern Conference scout noted to The Post that the Nets are easier to defend without Porter's shot-making ability. Teammate Julius Randle emphasized that other players must step up to compensate for Porter's absence, stating, "Everybody has to step in and chip in. It’s not just one person. So we’ve all got to step up and chip in and do it collectively as a unit."
Day'Ron Sharpe recorded his third double-double of the season with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists. This surpasses his career high of six double-doubles from the 2023-24 season.
For the second consecutive game, the Nets started a lineup where every player was at least 6-foot-9. Noah Clowney started at small forward in place of Porter. Alongside Randle, Sharpe, Egor Dëmin, and Danny Wolf, this marked the first time an NBA team had started five players all 6-foot-9 or taller since April 21, 1990, when the Los Angeles Lakers did so.
Mikel Brown Jr. and Nolan Traore returned to the lineup after missing the Nets' previous game. This was only the third game the Nets have had Dëmin, Brown, and Traore available together. Brown is still on a minutes restriction, and both he and Traore played just 19 minutes each, with Wolf starting at shooting guard.
The Nets experienced travel disruptions on Friday due to a Federal Aviation Administration nationwide flight grounding. Their original flight to Memphis was canceled, forcing them to stay overnight in New Orleans and travel to Memphis on Saturday morning. Fernández acknowledged the travel issue but expressed that the team felt rested and prepared for the game.