Brooklyn, Orlando and New York delivered the biggest headlines of the NBA weekend, ranging from a star-level surge in Brooklyn to worrying injuries in Manhattan.
Nets: Porter Jr. complicates Brooklyn’s draft strategy
Michael Porter Jr. has ignited the Nets, who have won all three games he has played since returning from a brief absence and are 6-7 in the 13 contests he has appeared in since Cam Thomas strained his left hamstring. The 25-year-old forward poured in 35 points on 14-for-23 shooting in Saturday’s blowout of the Pelicans, adding nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block in 33 minutes. He finished plus-31.
Head coach Jordi Fernández said Porter’s shooting and off-ball movement have been “good for everybody” while noting the forward is adapting well to his expanded role. Acquired from Denver during the offseason, Porter is posting career highs of 25.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists on nearly 50 percent from the field through 19 games—production that could prompt Brooklyn to explore trade options before the Feb. 5 deadline.
Magic: Franz Wagner exits with lower-left leg injury
Orlando may be without its leading scorer after Franz Wagner hurt his lower left leg during Sunday’s 106-100 loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The third-year wing went down early in the first quarter when Knicks center Ariel Hukporti broke up an alley-oop attempt and fouled him. Wagner landed awkwardly, immediately grabbed his left knee and needed help from teammates Moritz Wagner and Noah Penda to reach the bench without putting weight on the leg.
The Magic ruled him out for the rest of the game and said he will be re-evaluated once the team returns to Florida. The injury comes just as Paolo Banchero rejoined the lineup after missing time with a groin strain. Franz Wagner is averaging 23.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 48.9 percent.
Knicks: McBride’s ankle to be examined after X-ray
Miles McBride left the same game in the third quarter with a left ankle injury after Desmond Bane fouled him on a drive. McBride, who briefly remained in to take his free throws, limped to the bench and did not return. An X-ray was negative, and the guard is scheduled for an MRI on Monday. He is averaging 12.0 points and hitting 46.2 percent of his three-pointers in 19 appearances.
New York also held out Karl-Anthony Towns on Sunday because of left calf tightness. The issue is not believed to be serious, but the team listed him as questionable before ultimately ruling him out.
Source: Hoops Wire
