The Denver Nuggets used a balanced effort to beat the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday for their fourth straight win. All five starters finished in double figures for the Nuggets, including forward Michael Porter Jr., who had 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting. He added four rebounds, two blocks, and one steal in the convincing win, which tied them with the Los Angeles Lakers for fourth place in the Western Conference.

After the game, Nuggets coach Mike Malone praised Porter but didn’t focus on his offensive production. Instead, Malone spoke highly of the rising star's defense and sounded like a proud father (via Mike Singer of the Denver Post).

Porter has always shown that he is a deadly scorer ever since he first gained recognition as a five-star recruit out of high school. But now, in his second season with the Nuggets, it's his defense that has caught the attention of his coach, who noticed the maturity of the much-improved University of Missouri product.

Even Aaron Gordon, the Nuggets' newest acquisition has been impressed with the 22-year-old Porter.

With the 6-foot-8 Gordon sharing the court with the 6-foot-10 Porter and the 6-foot-11 Nikola Jokic, it gives the Nuggets an imposing yet versatile frontline that can go toe to toe with other tall teams in the NBA. And with more than a month left in the regular season, it gives Mile High City more opportunities to improve for the NBA Playoffs while also giving Michael Porter Jr. more time to show his care on the defensive end.