The Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers will get their playoff first-round matchup underway with a meeting at the Ball Arena on Saturday evening.
Both teams ended the regular season with an identical 50-32 record, suggesting that there is little to choose between them ahead of a best-of-seven series.
Match preview
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Despite relinquishing their title to the Boston Celtics last season, the Denver Nuggets were tipped as one of the major championship contenders this time around but headed into their season finale against the Houston Rockets still not guaranteed a playoff spot.
The Nuggets knew they had to win to keep their destiny in their own hands and avoid any last-minute complications, which is exactly what they did courtesy of a 126-111 triumph at the Toyota Center on Sunday.
Admittedly, the Nuggets had their task somewhat simplified by taking on a Rockets outfit who could afford to ease up a bit, having already secured the number two seed in the West, but the 2023 champions still needed to put on a solid display nonetheless.
In a season which saw him become the first center and fourth player overall to average a triple-double, Nikola Jokic was just three rebounds and as many assists short of a 35th of the campaign despite featuring in just three quarters.
Jokic is set to go head-to-head with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for this year's MVP award, but the current holder is focused on getting his team off to a winning start in their postseason journey against the Clippers.
The Nuggets and the Clippers evenly split their four regular-season matchups, winning two games apiece, although Saturday's hosts did come out on top in the final two meetings by a combined margin of 45 points.
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Like the Nuggets, the Clippers also took to the field for their final outing against the Golden State Warriors with their playoff status still yet to be confirmed in a keenly contested Western Conference.
However, Tyronn Lue's men also knew that a win would get the job done but did not have the luxury of facing an opposing side that could afford to take their feet off the gas, as the Warriors also remained in contention for a top-six spot.
A back-and-forth contest at the Chase Center ended with the sides level on 111 points, after which the Clippers took control of proceedings in overtime en route to a 124-119 triumph on Sunday evening to clinch fifth spot.
That was an eighth straight victory for the Clippers, who also won 18 of their final 21 matches, the joint-best record of any NBA team in that time alongside conference leaders the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Having missed the services of talisman Kawhi Leonard for 45 of the 82 regular-season games, the Clippers will be desperate to have their talisman fit for the entirety of the playoffs, and it is not hard to see why after his 33-point display last time out to go along with six rebounds and seven assists.
Leonard's return to action has taken some offensive burden off the shoulders of James Harden, but the floor general still posted a game-high 39 points against the Warriors, including 12 of his side's 13 in overtime.
Shrugging off some challenges along the way, the Clippers could not have hit top form at a better time, and with a vast majority of their roster now available, Saturday's visitors have every right to believe they can go all the way.
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Team News
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DaRon Holmes II is still nursing an Achilles problem he picked up back in July 2023 and is unlikely to play any part for the Denver Nuggets during the postseason.
Recently making his return to the fold off the back of a two-week spell on the sidelines, Canada international Jamal Murray is fit and raring to go for the home side.
Clippers duo Nicolas Batum (groin) and Patty Mills (illness) both missed the Warriors game but could be back in time to play a part in this weekend's encounter.
Twenty-five-year-old Seth Lundy, meanwhile, is a guaranteed absentee for the away side here as he continues his personal battle with a long-term ankle problem.
Denver Nuggets possible starting five:
Murray, Braun; Porter Jr, Gordon; Jokic
Los Angeles Clippers possible starting five:
Harden, Dunn; Powell, Leonard; Zubac
We say: Clippers to win by 4+ points
Arguably the most in-form team in the league at the moment, the Clippers will head into this one with the wind firmly in their sails, and we are backing them to deliver yet another statement of intent with a win.
Adepoju Marvellous
