Back Issue To Shelve Nuggets’ Michael Porter Jr. For ‘Foreseeable Future’

Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. will be out for the “foreseeable future” with a back injury, coach Mike Malone told reporters, via The Athletic.

“This is a process where we’re being very cautious, talking to doctors, getting imaging — all that kind of stuff,” Malone said before the Nuggets’ win over the Heat on Monday.

All Malone could offer beyond that is Porter will being undergoing more testing.

Porter, 23, is 6-foot-10 and averaging 9.9 points and 6.6 rebounds in nine appearances this season. He exited Saturday’s game vs. the Rockets with the injury.

The No. 14 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Porter missed his most of his only college season and all of his rookie season after back surgeries. He averaged career-highs of 19.7 points and 7.3 rebounds in 61 games last season.

Denver has already been without starting guard Jamal Murray, who is progressing in his rehab from a torn ACL, though there remains no timetable for his return.

“We all have to support Michael like we’re all supporting Jamal,” Malone said. “Michael could be back in a week. It could be more than that. I don’t know. When I say foreseeable future, I don’t really know what that means. I just know he’s not playing (Wednesday).”