Duke Basketball: Rodney Hood helps Portland force Game 7 vs. Denver
![PORTLAND, OREGON - MAY 09: Rodney Hood #5 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts after hitting a shot in the second half of Game Six of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Denver Nuggets at Moda Center on May 09, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers won 119-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) PORTLAND, OREGON - MAY 09: Rodney Hood #5 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts after hitting a shot in the second half of Game Six of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Denver Nuggets at Moda Center on May 09, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers won 119-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/309290f7f14d1572ff725841fdbcc69d2c17045d641a6b25c0cc0dc2a20dfdae.jpg)
The former Duke Basketball star Rodney Hood continued his excellent play helping the Portland Trail Blazers force a Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets.
Rodney Hood is continuing the best stretch of postseason games in his career and the Portland Trail Blazers have needed every last bit of his production.
Hood’s latest achievement was in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals, helping the Blazers force a Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets.
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The former Duke Blue Devil posted a playoff career high on Thursday night with 25 points in 32 minutes on 8-of-12 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 from 3-point range.
In the series, Rodney Hood is averaging 16.1 points per game and in addition to help lead the charge in Game 6, he came off the bench in the fourth overtime in Game 3 to win the game for the Blazers.
After the Trail Blazers win on Thursday, Damian Lillard called Hood Portland’s best player in this series and Denver head coach Mike Malone said that Hood was the best player on the floor in Game 6.
In the first round against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Hood averaged 3.2 points per game, only totaling 16 points in the five games.
The 6-foot-8 forward only trailed Lillard and CJ McCollum in points on Thursday in Portland’s 119-108 victory,
Lillard scored 32 points while McCollum dropped 30, but Hood led the Trail Blazers in +/-, ending the game with a +21 rating.
Hood also was able to grab four rebounds off the bench in 32 minutes in Game 6.
Game 7 between the Portland Trail Blazer and the Denver Nuggets will take place on Sunday, May 12 from the Pepsi Center in Denver, but a start time has yet to be announced due to the potential of three Game 7’s on Sunday.
The Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors will also be playing in a Game 7 on Sunday afternoon and based on the final score of Game 6 between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets, those two teams could also be playing in a Game 7 on Sunday.