The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers are headed to a decisive Game 7 after the Clippers forced the issue with a gutsy 111-105 victory in Game 6.
As attention turns to the winner-take-all finale, NBA analyst Bill Simmons has an unexpected prediction about who might decide the series.
While Nikola Jokic and Kawhi Leonard have dominated the spotlight throughout the first six games, Simmons believes another player could emerge as Denver’s difference-maker.
Despite the series featuring stars like Jokic, Leonard, Jamal Murray, and James Harden, Simmons points to Michael Porter Jr. as the potential key for the Nuggets in Game 7.
“Things working against them. Road team game seven. James Harden in a huge game. Jokic is the best player in this series. Although Kawhi, maybe he has something to say about that,” Simmons explained on his podcast before delivering his surprising take.
“The fact that Porter was so bad, makes me think he’s going to be good in game seven,” he predicted.
Porter has been largely invisible in the series, scoring just five points in Game 6 while seeing his critical minutes given to Russell Westbrook.
However, Simmons sees a potential bounce-back performance coming.
“Because that’s basically what we saw in game four, where he was awesome, and rebounding, and playing with a ton of athleticism. So I bet they’re going to subtly call him out and challenge him,” Simmons added.
The analyst’s prediction isn’t without precedent. Porter showed flashes of his potential in Game 4, dropping 17 points on efficient 54.5% shooting while connecting on four three-pointers.
Denver desperately needs that version of Porter to appear in Game 7, or he risks being relegated to the bench again in the most important game of the Nuggets’ season.
With championship aspirations on the line, the spotlight might just find Michael Porter Jr. when the Nuggets and Clippers face off one final time to decide who advances.
