Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets are set to kick off their first-round playoff series with a clash at Ball Arena on Saturday night.

Both teams finished the regular season with matching 50-32 records, indicating a tightly contested best-of-seven series lies ahead.

After losing their championship crown to the Boston Celtics last year, the Denver Nuggets were still considered strong contenders for the title this season. However, they entered their final regular-season game against the Houston Rockets needing a victory to secure a playoff berth.

The Nuggets delivered, clinching a 126-111 win at the Toyota Center on Sunday. While the Rockets, already locked into the West’s second seed, may have eased off, Denver still had to perform convincingly.

Nikola Jokic, who became the first center and fourth player ever to average a triple-double this season, nearly notched his 35th triple-double of the year, falling just three rebounds and three assists short despite playing only three quarters.

Jokic, a leading candidate for this year’s MVP award alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is now focused on guiding the Nuggets to a strong start in their playoff campaign against the Clippers.

The two teams split their four regular-season encounters, each winning twice, though Denver dominated the final two matchups by a combined 45 points.

Similarly, the Clippers faced uncertainty heading into their last game against the Golden State Warriors, with their playoff spot still unconfirmed in the competitive Western Conference.

The teams were tied at 111 points following a close game at the Chase Center. The Clippers then sei

zed control of the game in overtime and won 124-119 on Sunday night to secure fifth place.

James Harden's offensive load has been somewhat relieved by Leonard's return to play, but the floor general still scored a game-high 39 points against the Warriors, including 12 of his team's 13 points in overtime.

The Clippers, who have overcome some obstacles along the way, have never been in better condition. With the great bulk of their roster suddenly available, Saturday's visitors have every reason to think they can win the championship.