SUMMARY
- The Denver Nuggets are the reigning NBA champions.
- The LA Clippers, Phoenix Suns and OKC Thunder have a chance to eliminate the Nuggets in the playoffs.
NBA fans must be eager to know which teams in the Western Conference have a good chance of eliminating the Denver Nuggets from the playoffs. As the majority of the basketball community should be able to remember, the Nuggets managed to win their first-ever championship in franchise history by defeating the Miami Heat in the 2023 NBA Finals.
Led by the elite play of Nikola Jokic, who also added a Finals MVP award to his resume, the Nuggets have been doing quite well this season and currently hold the second spot in the Western Conference. As it goes with NBA champions, Denver currently has a target on its back as multiple teams across the West will be eager to prove that they are better. That said, here are 3 teams that hold a decent chance to defeat the Nuggets this time.
The Los Angeles Clippers are eager to seek revenge against the Denver Nuggets
Fans will remember that the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets have a recent rivalry. Although the Clippers had a 3-1 lead on the Nuggets during the 2020 playoffs, Denver ended up making an improbable comeback and winning that series.
The Phoenix Suns have made serious upgrades to their roster
Another team that has made significant changes to its roster in order to establish itself as a legitimate title contender is the Phoenix Suns. While they were eliminated by the Nuggets last season, the team has moved on from Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul to bring on Jusuf Nurkic and Bradley Beal. The Suns also defeated the Nuggets during a regular season game a few weeks ago.
The OKC Thunder handed the Nuggets a rare loss this season
One of the teams that has exceeded all set expectations heading into this season is the OKC Thunder. led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, OKC currently holds the best record in the Western Conference. They also managed to defeat the Nuggets during a regular season game, proving that their record and performance this season is no fluke.