Denver Nuggets will land quantity Three within the west when the common season ends – CBS Denver

(CBS4) – The Denver Nuggets finally know who they will face in the first round of the NBA playoffs. MVP contestant Nikola Jokic and his teammates will face the Portland Trail Blazers in Round 1 after finishing number 3 in the Western Conference.

Denver Nuggets head coaches Mike Malone and Nikola Jokic at the American Airlines Center on January 25th. (Image credit: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

The dates and times of the series are not yet set, but with Denver having a home advantage, the first two games will take place at the Ball Arena. More fans are allowed in these games than in the regular season. Ball Arena received approval from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to increase capacity to 7,750 fans per game, which is 42.3% of the venue’s total capacity.

Portland, led by Damian Lillard, finished sixth in the Western Conference. The Nuggets largely rested their starters in the second half and lost to them on Sunday night after beating them in their first two games earlier in the season 111-106 win on February 23 and a 106-105 win on April 21. Jokic scored 41 and 25 points in those games.

While Jokic is at the top of his game right now and is expected to continue that strong game into the playoffs, there are some questions about how the rest of the team will perform in the postseason. Striker Michael Porter Jr. has steadily improved and has the chance to truly shine as the team’s # 2 top scorer. He played this role well after the knee injury against Jamal Murray at the end of the season. Will he be able to continue this strong game? Will Barton and PJ Dozier be able to adapt? Both guards missed a lot of time with injuries. How will Facundo Campazzo appear as the starting point guard in his first NBA playoffs?

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets leaves the field after the second extension of Denver’s win between 139 and 137 against the Memphis Grizzlies at Ball Arena on April 19, 2021. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz / MediaNews Group / The Denver Post via Getty Images )

If the Nuggets knock out Portland and advance to the second round of the playoffs, they will face the second largest Phoenix Suns or one of several other possible teams. The Sun’s playoff opponent has yet to be determined due to the upcoming play-in games this week.

The real work begins now.

See you next weekend, Portland. # MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/nlCVM43b1b

– Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) May 17, 2021

Game 1 of the first round Nuggets Blazers matchup is expected to be played on Saturday or Sunday.

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