Michael Porter Jr. declined the Jazz matchup for personal reasons
The Brooklyn Nets will be without their best player on Friday against Utah Jazz. Michael Porter Jr. will miss the match on the second night of back-to-back games due to personal reasons.
Porter scored 38 points during the Nets’ 107-103 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. However, he has yet to make a series appearance this season. Friday is the second time this year that he has been ruled out for personal reasons.
The Jazz will be without Lauri Markkanen (rest), Jusuf Nurkic (illness) and Kevin Love (illness) against the Nets. Friday’s game has significant implications for draft lottery list.
Michael Porter Jr. was shut out for the Nets during a tank matchup against the Jazz
After a seven-game losing streak, the Nets are tied with the Washington Wizards for fourth in the lottery standings. Both teams are two games ahead of the Jazz, who sit in sixth place.
Utah owes the Oklahoma City Thunder its 2026 first-round pick, protected in the top eight. The Jazz recently held Markkanen to seven games due to illness and conditioning period to return to the game.
Porter averaged 25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists on 48.2 percent shooting from the field and 39.8 percent from three in 38 appearances with Brooklyn. Markkanen averaged 27.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists on 47.9 percent shooting from the field and 36.4 percent from three in 35 appearances this season.
The Jazz and Nets have had little success with their top players sidelined. Utah is 1-12 in games without Markkanen. Meanwhile, Brooklyn is 0-8 by an average margin of defeat of 16.1 points in games Porter has missed.
The Nets will also be without Noah Clowney on Friday due to a lower back ailment.
2026-01-30 19:37:00
