4 players who will sway Sunday's Game 7s
Game 7: one of the most emotion-invoking phrases in sports.
With the Denver Nuggets hosting the Portland Trail Blazers and the Philadelphia 76ers visiting the Toronto Raptors in a pair of win-or-go-home conference semifinals Sunday, plenty will be on the line for franchises, players, and fans alike.
Stars can shine or falter under the spotlight, while inspiration can arise from the unlikeliest of sources.
Here's one player from each of the participating teams who will likely determine the final outcome in Sunday's pair of series-deciders.
Ben Simmons (PHI)
The 76ers are a completely different team when Simmons is involved offensively. After being a non-factor over the series' first five games, the 6-foot-10 guard exploded for 21 points, eight boards, and six assists in the Sixers' Game 6 victory.
Simmons played a key role in Philadelphia's 16 fast-break points Thursday. While the Aussie native scored just two of those transition points, his ability to push the pace on the run is crucial in creating opportunities for others.
The 22-year-old is at his best when he's aggressive in open space and attacking defenders downhill. Once he gets a head of steam, he can seemingly get to the rim at will. The Sixers star had a game-high 18 points in the paint and didn't attempt a single shot beyond 5 feet during Game 6.
Simmons' energy on the glass seemed to spark his teammates and breathe life into the home crowd. He had four offensive boards and a game-high eight second-chance points to cap off a dominating performance. If Simmons is able to alter Game 7's momentum in a similar manner, Toronto could find itself in a world of danger.
Rodney Hood (POR)
The Trail Blazers will almost certainly get healthy contributions In Game 7 from Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, who are averaging 27.2 and 24.7 points per contest, respectively, through six games against the Denver Nuggets. But to reach its first Western Conference final in nearly 20 years, Portland may need a rejuvenated Hood to lift it over the hump.
The thought of the fifth-year guard being a legitimate playoff difference-maker essentially didn't exist prior to the second round. Hood was a DNP - CD five times during the Cleveland Cavaliers' run to the NBA Finals last year. In the first round, he averaged 3.2 points per contest on 27.3 percent shooting - including a 16.7 percent mark from distance.
Hood has pretty much risen from the ashes in the Western Conference semifinals to lead the Trail Blazers' second unit, which ranked last among the 16 playoff teams in points scored and triples made after the opening round. The Duke product is averaging 16.2 points per contest against the Nuggets and shooting a sizzling 57.9 percent from downtown.
Portland has maximized Hood's height advantage against the smaller Nuggets guards. He's strong enough to back down defenders in the post and has no problems shooting over the top of them. Hood's heroics were the difference in Game 3. Is an encore in store for Game 7?
Kyle Lowry (TOR)
Kawhi Leonard is the Raptors' marquee superstar, but Lowry remains their heartbeat. The North Philly native sets the tone on both ends of the floor and his teammates feed off his play. Lowry was passive in a humiliating Game 3 performance that saw him shoot 2-for-10 from the floor and finish a game-worst minus-28.
Lowry flipped the script in Games 4 and 5, scoring seven and eight points, respectively, in the opening quarter as he made an effort from the beginning to hunt his shots. Getting involved early can unlock other aspects of his game.
The All-Star guard is a nightmare for opponents when he's pushing the tempo off missed shots and turnovers. In Toronto's 125-89 win Tuesday, Lowry had a game-high nine points off turnovers and was second to Pascal Siakam with six fast-break points - the latter being a common beneficiary of Lowry's long feeds throughout the entire season. Toronto scored 50 fast-break points across Games 4 and 5 with Lowry spearheading the Raptors' transition game.
Lowry never shies away from the dirty work. He leads the NBA during the postseason in charges drawn (nine) and loose balls recovered (30), while ranking fifth in deflections (32). If the Raptors advance to their second East finals in franchise history, Lowry's fingerprints will be all over the series-clincher.
Paul Millsap (DEN)
Denver, like Portland, can bank on the offensive production of its stars in Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, but it will need a third man to elevate its game in a do-or-die situation. Millsap has done just that during the playoffs, increasing his scoring by nearly three points per game from the regular season.
The 34-year-old has been a model of consistency against the Trail Blazers, averaging 18.7 points on 43.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc while adding nine boards, 1.7 steals, and 1.7 blocks per contest. Millsap has owned his matchup in the post, scoring 55 points on 58.8 percent shooting in 200 possessions against Al-Farouq Aminu and holding his counterpart to 36.7 percent shooting from the floor.
His ability to guard inside and out led head coach Michael Malone to experiment using Millsap against the hot-shooting Hood for four possessions during Game 6. Portland also made adjustments in the last meeting, rotating the smaller Evan Turner and backup big man Zach Collins in an attempt to neutralize the 12-year vet. The duo found some success, holding Millsap to 3-of-10 shooting from the floor.
Who would've thought that Denver and Portland's second-round clash could come down to a Hood-Millsap matchup?