New Orleans Pelicans: 3 questions entering the game vs. the Nuggets

Pelicans vs. Nuggets: Who is going to defend Michael Porter Jr.?

Michael Porter Jr. has really been coming into his own lately and is a guy I was hoping the Pelicans and would pursue in a trade at some point.

The Pels’ defense on the wing has long been discussed, as they really haven’t had anyone step up in that area other than Naji Marshall, and that has only been very recently.

Although I think concerns over Brandon Ingram’s defense are overblown, he hasn’t shown that he can stop wings like Porter Jr. from doing their thing.

Porter Jr. is doing his best Ingram impression lately, scoring 24.8 points and grabbing 7.5 rebounds over his last ten games.

The Pelicans will probably throw a number of guys at him and everyone from Ingram to Marshall to Lonzo Ball will likely get a chance to defend him.

Can the Pelicans hold him in check? Porter Jr. has been shooting 56 percent over the last ten games, so the Pels will need to get in his face and contest his shots to try and make things more difficult.

The New Orleans Pelicans still have a lot to play for and will need to limit the Nuggets’ points in the paint and slow down Porter Jr. if they want to keep their dying chances alive.