NBA Makes Decision on Punishment for Key Starter in Clippers-Nuggets Game 5

The NBA has made a decision on the punishment for a key Denver Nuggets starter before Los Angeles Clippers Game 65

Apr 26, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) defends Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) in the first half of game four of round one of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Clippers are now all evened up in their series against the Denver Nuggets, following the late-game heroics by Aaron Gordon as he flushed down a game-winning buzzer-beater dunk to secure a Nuggets win. While Gordon's dunk was a highlight of the night, it might not've been the story of the evening.

Earlier in the game, Clippers guard James Harden and Nuggets guard Christian Braun got into an altercation, which involved several team members. However, one member of the Nuggets who was on the bench was seen attempting to intervene in the situation before being restrained by team staff. With many calling for his suspension, a verdict has been reached, according to league sources.

A league spokesperson confirms to @TheAthletic that Denver Nuggets small forward Michael Porter Jr. will not be suspended for Game 5 tonight vs the LA Clippers
— Law Murray 💭🚫 (@LawMurrayTheNU) April 29, 2025

According to Law Murray, a source has confirmed to The Athletic that Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. will not be suspended for Tuesday's Game 5 in Denver. Despite uproar online from Clippers fans, the league will not suspend Porter Jr. from Game 5.

Typically, players are suspended when they leave their team bench during an altercation, but it appears as though the NBA didn't deem his move enough to warrant a suspension, as Murray shared additionally that the league accounted for other factors in the situation.

Basically when it came down to the Michael Porter Jr. decision, the league determined that no rule was violated because the league takes into account specific factors

Here’s the rule and those factors pic.twitter.com/oavMx5rdWW
— Law Murray 💭🚫 (@LawMurrayTheNU) April 29, 2025

Porter Jr. is set to play Tuesday night against the Clippers, unless he's downgraded from probable due to his left shoulder sprain. Tip-off in Denver is set for 10:00 p.m. EST.

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