Answering Michael Porter Jr.’s call to make more plays is paying off big time for Nets

WASHINGTON – They used to call Michael Porter Jr. “Never Swing the Rock.”

After dishing out a career-high seven assists in back-to-back games, that name may have to change. Nets coach Jordi Fernández challenged Porter – who always moves well off the ball – to get back to cutting and not fall in love with too much dribbling and sacrifice himself for the team.

The result is not only improved play, but also a winning performance from the experienced striker. Porter had a game-high 34 points in leading Washington’s 129-106 loss on Sunday. He shot 11-of-18, grabbed nine rebounds and handed out seven assists.

“He has a plan to get better and show things he hasn’t done before,” Fernández said. “And right now, everyone benefits from finishing their plays, not dancing, not dribbling too much and putting pressure on the rim. “And guess what? When he does it, he is usually the one who benefits from it. So we want and need him to play like that, because that’s just contagious and good for the group. So very proud of him.”

Porter took the blame for Friday’s loss after shooting 1-of-6 down the stretch. On Sunday he cut well and didn’t get into any trouble.

“When I was in Denver, everyone assumed I only got some of those cuts because of Nikola [Jokic] and his vision. But I’ve always been a cutter, a guy who likes to find easy buckets and use my size in the basket,” Porter said. “So when I came here, it was something I was consciously doing. [Nic] Claxton and Day’Ron [Sharpe] can really pass the ball and they found me for a lot of easy points around the rim. So I have to keep doing that.”

Claxton had a season-high four blocks to go with 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. His averages of 15.2 points and 3.9 assists are career highs.

Brooklyn’s 129 points scored Sunday were a season high, and their most since scoring 132 in Portland on Jan. 14, 2025. They dished out a season-high 32 assists.

Rookie point guard Ben Saraf was injured with a second over in the first half of Long Island’s final game of the G-League assignment. The first-round pick jumped to the bench and did not return. A source told The Post that the injury is an ankle injury and the guard is being evaluated. An update is expected from the Nets on Monday.