Season series: Nuggets, 3-0.
Story line: The Northwest Division rivals seem evenly matched, as seen when they played a double-overtime thriller during the seeding games that the Nuggets won 134-132. Denver's three victories were by a total of 11 points.

Key matchup: Nikola Jokic vs. Rudy Gobert. Jokic is perhaps the best all-around center in the NBA and Gobert, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year, remains a stopper in the middle. But with Jokic able to handle the ball so well and shoot from so far, he is a tough cover for traditional big men who are used to being in the paint.