2019 NBA Playoffs: Denver Nuggets vs. San Antonio Spurs preview

The Denver Nuggets have a first round matchup against the San Antonio Spurs in the 2019 NBA Playoffs, and they’ll have to play their best to avoid a huge upset.

The Denver Nuggets didn’t have the strongest finish to the season, as they ended the 2018-19 campaign with a 5-5 record over their final 10 games. Regardless of that, they earned the second seed in the Western Conference, and they have a first round matchup against the San Antonio Spurs, who finished with the seventh seed. The Nuggets’ 54-28 record was good for fourth-best in the NBA, and it was their best season since the 2012-13 season.

Meanwhile, the Spurs finished 48-34 in the first year of the post-Kawhi Leonard era, which was one game better than they were last year. They remain one of the best-coached teams in the NBA, and as long as they have Gregg Popovich pulling the strings, they will be a threat to win any series they suit up for. However, as their dynasty with Pop is nearing its end, do they have a shot to upset this Nuggets team?

The teams split the seasons series at 2-2, with the Nuggets holding the lead in total point differential at +22. This has been a really even matchup over the past two years, as they’ve evenly split the series at four games apiece. The Nuggets are the higher seed and the favorites, but this doesn’t figure to be a walk in the park based on how they’ve played this year. Here’s a look at the key matchup, three key questions and a final prediction for the series.