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Former NBA Player Reveals Denver Nuggets’ Biggest Playoff Threat

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Kenneth Teape | Last updated 4/25/24

The defending NBA Champion Denver Nuggets have gotten off to another strong start in this year’s postseason. They drew the Los Angeles Lakers as their first-round matchup and have continued their dominance over the purple and gold.

Getting off to a 2-0 start, Denver has run their winning streak against Los Angeles to 10 games. Even when the Lakers have played well, the Nuggets always find a way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

In Game 2, Los Angeles looked like they would be snapping their streak. They led by as many as 20 points on the road, looking to even the series at one victory apiece heading back home. But, Denver had other plans.

They continually chipped away at the deficit, climbing back into the game. Ultimately, they came away with another victory, as Jamal Murray knocked down a jumper at the buzzer to make the Nuggets fans home happy.

While the Lakers have shown they can hang for parts of the game against the Nuggets, they haven’t shown they can get over the hump and pick-up victories. As things currently stand, Denver looks poised to advance to the second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

In that round, former NBA player Austin Rivers believes the Nuggets could be challenged. While appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Rivers revealed that the Los Angeles Clippers, in his opinion, are the only team that can push Denver to a seven-game series.

The Clippers are the only team that can force the Nuggets to a seven-game series, @AustinRivers25 says pic.twitter.com/WhohVbJv8Y
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 23, 2024

The Clippers have their work cut out for them in their first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks. Those teams are tied 1-1 as the series shifts to Dallas for Games 3 and 4. Los Angeles certainly isn’t looking ahead to what could be next, as they need to handle business first against Dallas.

But, Rivers likely isn’t alone in his assessment of the Clippers being the biggest threat to the defending champions. If they can get Kawhi Leonard healthy, they are as dangerous as anyone with him, Paul George and James Harden leading the way.

For a large chunk of the 2023-24 NBA regular season, it was the Clippers who were considered the cream of the crop in the league. If they can regain that form, they will give the Nuggets a run for their money.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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