INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Michael Porter Jr. was much more productive in his second game playing through a shoulder sprain, but there’s a decent chance he won’t be active for Game 5 for a different reason.

Porter was on the bench during the scuffle that broke out late in the second quarter of Game 4. As the Nuggets and Clippers exchanged unpleasantries, Porter took a handful of steps onto the court before Nuggets staffers stopped him.

The portion of the NBA rulebook that outlines punishment for those involved in fights or altercations states: “All players not participating in the game must remain in the immediate vicinity of their bench. Violators will be subject to suspension, without pay, for a minimum of one game and fined up to $50,000.”

Whether Porter took enough steps to warrant a suspension will be up to the league to decide. He said he was unaware of the rule.

“Sorry, I didn’t know the specific rule. I’m glad I didn’t make it very far, you know. That’s what a team is for. That’s what the coaches is for, to pull you back. It’s an intense game, an intense moment,” Porter said.

“I’m very thankful that I did not get tossed from this game or anything like that. So definitely a learning experience for sure. I’ve never been on the bench when a scuffle has happened and had the opportunity to go off of the bench, but definitely a learning experience.”

Should the league decide it was worthy of a suspension, Porter’s absence for Game 5 would be a big loss, especially after performing like he did Saturday. Despite asking for help removing his jersey postgame due to the sprained left shoulder, Porter posted 17 points on 11 shots and grabbed four rebounds with assists in 42 minutes of playing time.

“How about some of the shots he made tonight? Not only the shots he made, but if you watch the tape, every shot he takes, even when he makes it, he’s grimacing. It hurts to get the ball above his head,” Adelman said, again praising Porter’s toughness.

“These injuries that Michael’s gone through, they’re legit, and he’s tough. He’s playing for his teammates. He’s playing because he knows this is one of the opportunities in his life he gets to do something with a team that’s really special. … Just really proud of him.”

Denver’s starting small forward may not be playing for his teammates Tuesday.

Jokic recalls similar finish

Not all the Nuggets have the encyclopedic database of basketball moments Nikola Jokic has at his disposal.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen something like that,” Christian Braun said of Aaron Gordon’s game-winning put-back dunk in Saturday’s Game 4.

Allow Jokic to take over.

“Maybe I can help you guys write the story,” Jokic said.

The three-time Most Valuable Player dug deep to reference a 2010 EuroLeague semifinal, though he needed one edit. Jokic remembered fellow Serbian Milos Teodosic playing for CSKA Moscow, the team he joined the following season. Teodosic was still with Greek club Olympiacos when former Stanford star Josh Childress rebounded an airball and dunked it to tie the game against Serbian club Partizan just before the buzzer.

Add another assist to Jokic’s tally.

Westbrook misses game

The Nuggets were without one of their most trusted reserves for Game 4.

Less than an hour before tipoff, the Nuggets said Russell Westbrook would miss the game with left foot inflammation. Westbrook left Game 3 after playing 9 minutes and did not return.

The Nuggets now are 8-0 without Westbrook this season.

Interim coach David Adelman said his staff spent Saturday morning preparing for different outcomes, as Michael Porter Jr. was also listed as questionable to start the day.

“Next-man-up kind of thing,” Adelman said. “We talked to a majority of the guys on our team today about being ready to play even though you may not play. … We went through a lot of scenarios this morning to make sure we’re prepared for that.”

Without Westbrook, Vlatko Cancar and Jalen Pickett were the first reserves off Denver’s bench.