The NBA saw one of its most intense moments of the season on Friday night, when Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. and San Antonio Spurs forward Zach Collins got into an altercation.
Midway through the third quarter of the Spurs’ 128-120 win over the Nuggets at the AT&T Center, Porter threw down a huge dunk on Collins. The dunk was clean, but Porter kept talking to Collins as the two started working their way down the court. That set Collins off, and he chased Porter down after Porter had turned his back and bumped him, sparking a brief altercation near midcourt.
While it didn’t last long, Porter actually grabbed Collins completely by the neck before they were separated. Both Collins and Porter were then ejected from the game.
The incident was a reminder of the intensity of the NBA, and how quickly things can escalate between players. It also showed Porter’s competitive spirit and willingness to stand up for himself and his teammates.
The altercation did not have a major impact on the game, as the Spurs held a 98-93 lead after the third quarter and went on to take the eight-point win. Keldon Johnson led the way with 23 points and eight rebounds, and Doug McDermott added 20 points off the bench.
Nikola Jokic had a triple-double for the Nuggets with 37 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Jamal Murray added 24 points and seven assists. Denver, following Wednesday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls, has now lost consecutive games for the first time since late January and just the third time all season.
The altercation between Porter and Collins is sure to be a topic of discussion for some time, as it was a reminder of the intensity of the NBA and the level of competitiveness of its players. It also serves as a reminder that even in the heat of the moment, players must stay in control and not resort to physical altercations.
