Wind Chimes: Will the Jokic Brothers be in Miami? What's the latest on MPJ?

Tonight’s Nuggets-Heat rematch in Miami will be appointment viewing for two reasons:

1. Will Nikola Jokic, who’s listed as questionable as of Monday morning, play after missing the last four games with a right wrist sprain that’s sent Denver spiraling on a six-game losing streak?

2. Who will be in the stands?

It was exactly three weeks ago when Jokic’s brothers Nemanja and Strahinja sent their warning shot after Denver’s 113-96 home win over Miami. With the Nuggets leading by 17 points with under three minutes remaining in regulation, Markieff Morris body checked Jokic near half-court in an attempt to stop the Nuggets’ transition play. Jokic retaliated by throwing a hard right shoulder into Morris’ back that sent him crumbling to the floor and has forced him to miss Miami’s last 10 games.

Isiah Thomas put it pretty well that night. “One hit, then another.”

Isiah Thomas, of the Bad Boy Pistons, on the Nikola Jokic-Markieff Morris incident: "One hit, then another."

"I don't think people realize how tough (Jokic) truly is. That's no act. You see everybody ran up on him, and then they backed up off him." pic.twitter.com/52OhvzyTsK

— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) November 9, 2021

After the incident, Markieff’s twin brother Marcus tweeted, “Waited till bro turned his back smh. NOTED.”

Then, the Jokic Brothers hopped on Twitter, created an account, and replied, “You should leave this the way it is instead of publicly threatening our brother! Your brother made a dirty play first. If you want to make a step further be sure we will be waiting for you !! Jokic Brothers.”

Here’s more of the back-and-forth that occurred before the account was deleted six days later.

Eric Goodman of Mile High Sports reported on Nov. 9 that the Jokic Brothers purchased tickets to tonight’s rematch and were expected to be present in FTX Arena. A source told me at that time that the Jokic Brother’s tickets were “courtside” seats.

As of Monday morning, the Jokic Brothers are still planning on attending tonight’s game live, a source told DNVR.

The sense I get from Nuggets players and the team is that they’ve moved past the incident. Denver is more concerned with ending a six-game slide that’s seen the Nuggets fall all the way to 9-10 overall. Plus, there’s no guarantee Jokic will even play. He’s been ramping up his on-court work prior to the Nuggets’ last few games, but Denver won’t put him on the floor until his wrist is 100% healed.

The Heat and their captain Udonis Haslem have said that they’ve moved past it too, but Haslem did offer a warning shot of his own to the Jokic Brothers Sunday.

“I have nothing to do with that, man. We’re going to play a basketball game,” Haslem said. “That’s over with. I don’t have nothing to do with that. I keep hearing about the Jokic brothers buying tickets to come to the game. They better stay in line and don’t come down there and start trouble. Miami is my city. It’s my city.”

Other Chimes:

There was mostly radio silence on the Michael Porter Jr. front ever since Malone revealed that the forward traveled to Florida to get more opinions on his ailing back after the Nuggets’ loss in Phoenix on Nov. 21 and Mike Singer of the Denver Post reported that Porter has a nerve issue that could jeopardize his season.

Until this morning.

Nuggets F Michael Porter Jr., will undergo a surgical procedure on his lower back and miss an indefinite period, his agent Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN. Bartelstein says Porter’s expected to make a full recovery; timetable on return will come after surgery.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 29, 2021

My quick thoughts: I really feel for Porter. He worked so hard to get his body back to the point it was at last season. It’s easy to forget now, but he was playing really, really high-level basketball. For what he did between the lines, Porter absolutely earned and was worthy of the max contract Denver gave him. Staring another long rehab process in the face after his third back surgery before the age of 24 would be incredibly intimidating after what he’s been through. For someone who lives in the gym like Porter, it’s a gutting prognosis.

For all the reaction I’ve seen this morning saying Porter’s injury might close Denver’s championship window, it just doesn’t. Not even close. What it does do is take Denver from entering next season — I’m looking past this year at the moment because we just don’t know how quickly Jamal Murray will ramp up after his return — as the potential championship favorite to just a contender. That’s who the Nuggets will always be behind the Jokic-Murray two-man game. Plus, Aaron Gordon is under contract for the next three years. Will Barton is under contract next season. I think Jokic is likely to sign a supermax next summer. Murray is locked in for the next three years. The window is still wide open.

I wouldn’t expect Denver to throw in the towel this season either. Sure, the Nuggets could be extra considerate about how much Jokic rests over the second half of the season. Maybe he sits a back-to-back that he wouldn’t have last year. But I don’t see the Nuggets all of a sudden stalling the upward momentum they’ve worked so hard to build over the last three seasons, which has included playoff series wins in three-straight years.

Denver will surely maintain a big picture view with Porter and he’ll likely be out for the rest of the season, especially since the clock starts on his five-year contract next year. You’ll hear that phrase from Michael Malone and the team often, but I don’t think that means the Nuggets punt on this season by any means.

Here’s at least some more encouraging news: A source told DNVR that Porter was at the Nuggets team hotel in Miami Sunday night for a short while interacting with players and staffers. He’s not playing tonight, but there’s a good chance Porter is with the team at the game. Surgery is reportedly scheduled for Wednesday.

Will Barton deserves a ton of praise for what he’s done with Jokic sidelined but also for his play all season. Barton’s averaging career-highs in points (16.3), assists (4.3), and minutes (33.6). That last figure is concerning based on Barton’s recent injury history. Barton’s one of only 25 players who’s averaging at least 16 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists this season. Just five players are averaging those numbers while maintaining a higher Effective Field Goal percentage than Barton (53.7%): Jokic, Curry, Durant, Giannis, LeBron.