Michael Porter Jr. is getting the night off during an important tank matchup following the Brooklyn Nets’ unexpected win over the Detroit Pistons. Porter was ruled out of Monday’s game with the Memphis Grizzlies for rest.
The night of rest comes after the Nets lost in a tightly contested tank race following a 23-point comeback in the second half against the Pistons on Saturday. Porter scored a game-high 30 points with 13 rebounds in the impressive win. He played 39 minutes, his most in any game this season.
The win, which snapped a 10-game losing streak, moved the Nets into a tie with the Washington Wizards for third place in the draft lottery standings. They are 1.5 games behind the second-place Indiana Pacers and two games behind the first-place Sacramento Kings.
Can the Nets pick up their second straight win on Monday against the depleted Grizzlies?
Even with Porter and Egor Demin sidelined, the Nets will have a good chance to pick up their second straight win on Monday. The Grizzlies’ eight highest-paid players are on the injury report along with other players.
Memphis will be without Ja Morant, Zach Eddy, Santi Aldama, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Brandon Clarke and Taj Gibson on Monday. Meanwhile, Cedric Coward, Ty Jerome, Scottie Pippen Jr. and Taylor Hendricks are questionable.
If all of the above names are ruled out, the Grizzlies will have only eight available players against the Nets: Walter Clayton Jr., Cam Spencer, GG Jackson, Jaylen Wells, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Javon Small, Ryan Rupert and Jahmai Meshach. All of those players are on rookie contracts, minimum or two-way deals. There is no center among the group.
Meanwhile, both of Brooklyn’s centers, Nick Claxton and De’Ron Sharp, are available.
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