Shortly after they closed out their first-round series via a gentleman’s sweep against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, the top-seeded Denver Nuggets now see themselves facing the Phoenix Suns for a Conference Semifinals war this season.
For reigning two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, battling the Suns within the playoff arena moving on will offer them a gigantic challenge, as he sees the Arizona squad as the “favorites” to clinch the coveted NBA title.
“I mean, probably, they are the favorites to win the championship,” Jokic said. “They have an amazing group of guys. Well coached. They have Chris Paul, who is probably the best manager or general in the game. [Devin] Booker, [Kevin Durant], superstars, arguably the best players in the NBA right now. … [Deandre] Ayton, who I really admire his game.”
” … I think they all have whoever step on the floor who knows their role and knows what to do so it’s going to be a big challenge for us.”
Phoenix, who swept Jokic and the Nuggets on their previous second-round chippy encounter last 2021 Playoffs, disposed of the undermanned L.A. Clippers via a 4-1 series win.
The club certainly got a new look after two seasons given the blockbuster addition of Kevin Durant from the last trade deadline. But Denver, for its part, now got a surging Jamal Murray back at their side after over a year of absence from his ACL recovery.
In their regular season series this 2022-23, the Nuggets and the Suns split their four-game duel. In all of those matchups, neither team played at full strength.
But with all players healthy as the series opener is set to commence on Friday in Ball Arena, the showdown between these Western Conference powerhouse teams can only be intriguing and exciting. Whoever wins the upcoming seven-game series may strongly come out of the West and win the championship.
