Denver still has the best player in the world in Nikola Jokić. With a exception of a down postseason from his running mate in 2024, Jokić and Jamal Murray are among the league's bigger playoff risers. And the Nuggets ending the season 3-0 under their interim coach could be more than the typical "new coach bump."

Everyone thinks the experienced Warriors will beat the young Rockets, and that's not a good sign for Golden State.

After nearly three weeks of waiting, the Houston Rockets now know who they will face in their first playoff series in five years. The Golden State Warriors won Tuesday night's play-in game over Memphis to earn the Western Conference's No.