In what should be a fireworks display in Game 7, Donovan Mitchell will lead the Utah Jazz past the Denver Nuggets and onto the Western Conference Semifinals.
Donovan Mitchell and Jamal Murray will again duke it out in Game 7. (Photo from Getty Images)
Game Details
Date: September 1, 2020 (September 2, 2020 in the Philippines)
Time: 8:30 PM ET (8:30 AM PST)
Location: AdventHealth Arena, Orlando, FL
Key Performers from Game 6
(3) Nuggets– Jamal Murray: 50 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, nine three-pointers
(6) Jazz – Donovan Mitchell: 44 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, nine three-pointers
Round 7 of Mitchell-Murray battle
This close-call, thrilling series has produced a battle for the ages, and probably a budding rivalry between two young combo guards. Murray is coming off a 50-point performance as the Nuggets staved off elimination in Game 6. Mitchell didn’t do bad either. The Jazz star came out with 44 markers, and tied Murray’s total of nine triples in that game.
Game 7 will feature another showcase of offensive skills from these excellent young guns, but I’m predicting that Mitchell’s Jazz squad will come out on top. Either way, here’s a breakdown of how Mitchell and Murray have been torching the nets in this spectacular first-round playoff match-up.
MUST-WIN GAME 7!
Scoring machines Donovan Mitchell of the @utahjazz and Jamal Murray of the @nuggets look to push their teams to the Conference Semis tonight at 8:30 PM ET on ABC. pic.twitter.com/uqvNE3bG12
— NBA (@NBA) September 1, 2020
Prediction: Utah’s supporting cast complement Mitchell on their way to a Game 7 victory
Mike Conley, Joe Ingles and the rest of Utah’s supporting cast should step up in Game 7. (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE/Getty Images)
While it’s highly-expected that Murray and Mitchell will continue to impress with their unstoppable shot-making, the result of Game 7 will arguably boil down to which supporting cast will do a better job on both ends of the floor. Having said that, I see the likes of Conley, Ingles and Jordan Clarkson making their shots as Denver’s defense gravitate towards Mitchell.
Murray, Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets will put up a tough fight, but the Jazz will escape with the hard-earned win and advance to the Western Conference Semifinals.
X-Factors
Denver’s Michael Porter only made one of his seven shots in Game 6 against Utah. (Photo from USA TODAY Sports)
(3) Nuggets – Michael Porter Jr.
Porter only made field goal attempt in 28 minutes of play in Game 6, although he also pulled down 12 rebounds in the win. The rookie combo forward shot 0-5 from the three-point line, an abysmal tally that he can’t afford to do again in the series decider. With the Jazz probably double-teaming Murray at some situations, Porter has to step up, knock down his shots and make Utah’s defense pay.
(6) Jazz – Mike Conley
Conley has been fairly good this series, and he needs to continue riding that momentum in Game 7. Moreover, the Jazz direly needs his leadership at this stage of the season as Conley has seen his share of tough playoff battles during his time with the Memphis Grizzlies.
