The Brooklyn Nets are heading into Monday night’s matchup against the Charlotte Hornets looking to halt a four-game skid-and there’s a good chance they’ll have their leading scorer back in the mix.
Michael Porter Jr., who’s missed the last two games with lower back soreness, is listed as probable. That’s a welcome sign for a Nets team that’s been missing his offensive punch. Porter’s back has been a recurring issue throughout his career-three surgeries between 2018 and 2021-but head coach Jordi Fernandez isn’t sounding any alarms about this latest flare-up.
Before the injury, Porter was leading the way for Brooklyn after arriving via trade from Denver. He’s been producing at an All-Star level, averaging 24.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 48 percent from the field, 36 percent from three, and 83 percent from the line. That kind of efficiency and volume has made him the focal point of the Nets’ offense-and his absence has been felt.
In the two games without Porter, Brooklyn’s offense sputtered. The team posted an offensive rating of just 105.8 while shooting 43.2 percent from the floor. Simply put, they’ve lacked the scoring gravity and shot creation that Porter brings to the table.
They might also be missing some frontcourt depth, depending on how Noah Clowney feels at tip-off. Clowney showed up on the injury report Sunday with left hip soreness, but he’s also listed as probable, which suggests he’s trending toward playing. That’s good news for Brooklyn, because Clowney has been one of the team’s most consistent contributors over the past dozen games.
Since being inserted into the starting lineup, Clowney has averaged 15.8 points per game while shooting 44 percent overall, 37 percent from deep, and 80 percent from the free-throw line. His 62.2 true shooting percentage during that stretch is second on the team-just behind Porter’s 63.6. That kind of efficiency from a young forward is exactly what the Nets need to keep defenses honest and space the floor.
Veteran guard Terance Mann is another name to watch. He’s questionable with right rib soreness, the same issue that had him listed ahead of Saturday’s game against Milwaukee before he was ultimately cleared to play. Mann has been a steady presence off the bench since coming over from Atlanta, averaging 8.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 44.5 percent from the field, 34.5 percent from three, and 82.8 percent from the line.
On the other side, the Hornets are riding a bit of momentum. After dropping seven straight, they’ve now won two in a row. But they may be without Tre Mann, who’s questionable with a left ankle impingement.
For Brooklyn, Monday’s game isn’t just about snapping a losing streak-it’s about getting back to the version of themselves that looked so promising earlier this season. If Porter is back in the lineup and Clowney continues his upward trajectory, the Nets have a real shot to right the ship at home.