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."

What can be expected out of the Warriors' showdown with the Houston Rockets? Here are three predictions for their first round clash.

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) celebrates a turnover against the Memphis Grizzlies in the final seconds of fourth quarter of their NBA play-in tournament game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)