The Brooklyn Nets (3-8) did not have the start to this road trip that they were hoping for as they had disappointing losses at the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks. However, Brooklyn is coming off its most impressive win of the season after beating the New Orleans Pelicans 145-111 on Wednesday, but for their matchup at the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, the Nets have to deal with more adversity.
The Nets announced hours before Saturday's tipoff in Memphis that forward Michael Porter Jr. would be unavailable for the game due to personal reasons. This marks Porter's first missed game of the season, but the good news is that he isn't missing the game due to injury so he should be available for Brooklyn once they return home from their weeklong
road trip.
The good news for the Nets is that guards Nolan Traore and Mikel Brown Jr. are available for Wednesday's game at the Grizzlies after missing Wednesday's game in New Orleans due to their respective ailments. Traore has been dealing with tightness in his right calf while Brown was working his way through an illness, but both young guards are back in the rotation for head coach Jordi Fernandez.
Porter, 28, is having another solid season for the Nets as he's averaging 21.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 45.6% from the field and 37.5% from behind the three-point line. With Porter unavailable on Saturday, forward Julius Randle will have to pick up more of the scoring load while the Nets will be hoping that players like guard Egor Demin and center Day'Ron Sharpe can continue stepping up to the occasion.
With the sports world dealing with travel disruption due to the FAA and its recent ground stop declaration, Brooklyn could potentially benefit as the Grizzlies are without some of its best players. Prior to Saturday's tipoff, the Grizzlies ruled out guard Ty Jerome (right hip soreness), center Zach Edey (left ankle injury management) and forward Jerami Grant (head injury),among others, for the matchup.
The Nets say Nolan Traore (right calf soreness) is AVAILABLE for tonight's game at the Grizzlies.
— Sharif Phillips-Keaton (@SharifKeaton) November 14, 2026
Rookie guard Mikel Brown Jr. (illness) is also AVAILABLE tonight.
Michael Porter Jr. (personal reasons) is QUESTIONABLE and if he's unable to play, there will be a new starting 5. https://t.co/WHDXY1kVVl
The Nets have ruled OUT Michael Porter Jr. (personal reasons) for tonight's game at the Grizzlies. https://t.co/jFIxGIfyEi
— Sharif Phillips-Keaton (@SharifKeaton) November 15, 2026
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets rule out Michael Porter Jr. (personal reasons) at Grizzlies
