NBA Playoffs 2019: Power ranking the first-round matchups

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 29: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks handles the ball against Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons on January 29, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 29: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks handles the ball against Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons on January 29, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – APRIL 3: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs jocks for a position during the game against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets on April 3, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – APRIL 3: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs jocks for a position during the game against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets on April 3, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Denver Nuggets vs. San Antonio Spurs

The Denver Nuggets squeaked into the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, thus escaping the side of the playoff bracket with the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets. While their late-season chicanery worked wonders, a first-round matchup against the San Antonio Spurs could prove to be regrettable.

While many of the Nuggets’ core players are postseason neophytes, the Spurs boast plenty of playoff experience.

This will be LaMarcus Aldridge’s sixth straight trip to the playoffs and ninth altogether, while DeMar DeRozan has made six straight appearances as well. Leading the way will be head coach Gregg Popovich, who has won five NBA championships and made the postseason for an unfathomable 22 consecutive years.

The Nuggets have the clear talent advantage over a Spurs squad whose fourth- and fifth-leading scorers are Bryn Forbes and Marco Belinelli, respectively, but that hasn’t stopped skepticism about their chances in this series. They ended the regular season on a 5-6 skid, which began with a 124-88 pantsing at the hands of the Indiana Pacers.

Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Monte Morris and Malik Beasley will all be making their playoff debuts in this series, which adds an element of uncertainty to how the proceedings will unfold. The crucible of a seven-game series is far different than a regular-season matchup, and how head coach Mike Malone navigates against Popovich could go a long way toward determining the outcome of this series.