How Nuggets’ Michael Porter Jr. Can Be Difference-Maker Against Wolves
By Alex Murray
MPJ Peaking At The Right Time
Another big reason that MPJ could have a larger than usual impact on this series is that he’s coming into it as hot as he’s been since October. Only three guys have shot the three-ball better than MPJ since he entered the league in 2019 and he continued to be an efficient marksman this season.
MPJ was top 20 in three-point percentage at 41.4 and was also top 25 in triples made with 188. March was his best month since the start of the season, averaging 17.7 points while hitting 2.9 triples a game at a 43.2 percent clip.
He was even hotter in his three appearances in April, averaging 22.3 points per with 4.3 long balls per game on 40.6 percent shooting. All told, in his last 18 games the Mizzou product averaged 19.1 points and 3.4 threes on a 52/43/81 shooting line to cap off another great season that saw MPJ improve in many areas.
The Timberwolves also allowed the seventh-highest three point percentage to their opponents (36.9) which should only add to MPJ’s ability to impact the game with his long-range efficiency. According to ESPN’s Kirk Goldsberry, MPJ was fourth behind only Steph Curry, Buddy Hield, and Kevin Durant for points per jump shot this season, with 1.18.