Denver in Crisis: Porter & Westbrook Injuries Leave Jokić Carrying a Broken Contender

The Denver Nuggets’ championship defense is unraveling at the worst possible moment. After a humiliating 117-83 Game 3 loss to the LA Clippers—their second straight defeat—the Nuggets now trail 1-2 in the series, facing a crisis that goes far beyond the scoreboard.

A Historic Collapse Exposes Denver’s Fragility

The numbers from Thursday’s debacle are staggering:

• 83 points: Denver’s lowest offensive output this season and the franchise’s third-worst playoff scoring performance in a decade.

  

• 34-point loss: The third-largest postseason defeat in Nuggets history since 2000, and Nikola Jokić’s third-worst career margin of defeat.

What began as a tightly contested series (Games 1 and 2 were decided by a combined 9 points) has devolved into a nightmare. The Clippers, led by Kawhi Leonard’s two-way dominance and James Harden’s orchestration, have exposed Denver’s depleted roster—and the injury report reads like a triage list.

The Walking Wounded: Porter’s Shoulder, Murray’s Ankle, and a Broken Bench

Michael Porter Jr.’s Uncertain Status

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported post-Game 3 that Porter is "questionable" for Game 4 due to a Grade 2 left shoulder sprain, an injury he admitted typically requires 4-5 weeks to heal. Despite playing through pain in Game 3 (7 points on 2-of-9 shooting, -25 +/-), Porter’s impact has been minimal all series:

• G1: 3 points, benched in crunch time.

• G2: 15 points, 15 rebounds (Denver still lost).

Though often criticized for his inconsistent play, Porter’s floor-spacing and rebounding (6’10” with a 7’0” wingspan) are vital to Denver’s system. Without him, Jokić loses a release valve, and the Clippers’ physical frontcourt (Zubac, Leonard, Tucker) will feast on the glass.

Russell Westbrook’s Limping Heroics

Westbrook, the much-maligned but energizing sixth man, suffered a left foot inflammation after rolling his ankle pre-Game 3. He played just 12 minutes (3 points) before shutting down. His absence is catastrophic for a bench unit that already ranks 29th in playoff scoring (18.7 PPG).

Jamal Murray’s Silent Struggle

Murray (22.3 PPG, 42.1% 3PT this series) is technically "playing," but he’s far from 100%. After missing 8 of Denver’s final 14 regular-season games with an ankle injury, he’s now battling illness. Post-Game 2, he admitted: "I powered through. I’m sick, but no excuses." His lack of explosiveness shows—he’s yet to deliver a signature "Playoff Murray" explosion.

Aaron Gordon’s Invisible Leap

Gordon (18.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG) has been solid statistically, but his efficiency has plummeted (44.2% FG vs. 53.1% in regular season). Defensively, he’s been torched by Leonard (13-of-19 shooting, 22 points in 97 matchups). Most concerning? Gordon confessed post-Game 3: "I can barely jump right now." If true, Denver has no answer for Leonard’s mid-range mastery.

Jokić’s Impossible Burden

The two-time MVP remains Denver’s lone bright spot (26.0 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 11.7 APG, 62.1% TS), but the Clippers’ defensive scheme—Zubac’s physicality, swarming help defenders—has forced him into exhausting, high-difficulty plays. Worse, Jokić is now doubling as a coach, seen in a heated sideline exchange with assistant David Adelman during Game 3. With head coach Michael Malone suspended (playoff seeding altercation), Denver’s lack of adjustments is glaring.

Why the Clippers Are Winning the War

1. Health Advantage: Leonard looks like his 2019 Raptors self, Harden is dissecting switches, and Zubac is outmuscling Jokić. Meanwhile, Denver’s core is held together by tape and grit.

2. Defensive Adjustments: LA has trapped Murray, ignored Porter’s erratic shooting, and dared Denver’s bench (Reggie Jackson, Christian Braun) to beat them. It’s working.

3. Psychological Edge: A 34-point rout in Game 3 isn’t just a loss—it’s a statement. The Clippers know Denver is vulnerable.

What’s Next? A Make-or-Break Game 4

If Porter and Westbrook sit, Denver’s rotation shrinks to Jokić, Murray, Gordon, and hope. The Nuggets must:

• Unleash Murray: Force him into pick-and-rolls to attack Harden/Norm Powell.

• Hide Gordon: Switch Leonard onto KCP or Braun to preserve Gordon’s energy.

• Pray for Bench Miracles: Braun, Jackson, or Peyton Watson must hit open threes.

But realistically? This series hinges on Jokić summoning a 50-point masterpiece—and even that might not be enough.

The Verdict: A Dynasty on the Brink

The Nuggets aren’t just losing—they’re disintegrating. Injuries, fatigue, and the Clippers’ ruthlessness have exposed the harsh truth: Denver’s championship window might already be closing.

If they fall in this series, hard questions await. Is Murray a true co-star? Can Porter stay healthy? Is the bench fixable? For now, all that’s certain is this: Jokić is the NBA’s most brilliant one-man army—but even he can’t carry a broken team forever.