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The round two matchup is set between the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets. It should be a thrilling series, as Devin Booker and Nikola Jokic battle it out on the court.
The Suns entered the postseason as the second seed and just eliminated a LeBron James-led Los Angeles Lakers team. On the other hand, the Denver Nuggets came in as the three seed and outplayed Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Both franchises are rolling with momentum and could create the best series matchup in the NBA Playoffs. They pair well against each other, as the Suns have the advantage in the backcourt, while the Nuggets have an edge in the frontcourt.
You can expect some high-level basketball in this series, as we're watching two of the best in the league take it to the court. With that said, here are three bold predictions for the Suns-Nuggets 2021 NBA Playoffs series.
Michael Porter Jr. goes bonkers for Nuggets
Michael Porter Jr. might just be the X-Factor the Nuggets need to win this series. He's had a much improved season after serving more as a role player last year. It's nice to see him become a major contributor for Denver after suffering his back injury a few years ago. Now, Porter Jr. aims to light it up against the Phoenix Suns, as he could be the separator between the two teams.
This year, Porter Jr. has averaged 19.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. His 54.2% field goal percentage proves he's not just a great scorer, but efficient as well. Denver is going to need that efficiency if they hope to defeat the Suns, as Phoenix has the ability to score at will. He has a mismatch preference in this series, as he can shoot from anywhere on the court.
Deandre Ayton holds his own for Suns vs Nikola Jokic
The Nuggets have the edge down low, but the Suns have a rising star at the center position. Deandre Ayton put up a great fight against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round and proved to be a consistent asset in the paint. He's going to have his hands full guarding Nikola Jokic, but after guarding Anthony Davis and Andre Drummond, Ayton is up for the task.
Look for the Suns to use Ayton to slow down Jokic. He has the offensive ability to possibly put Jokic into foul trouble, and he's good enough defensively to force Jokic into some tough shots. After watching him play rather well against the Lakers, Ayton should be able to carry that momentum against the Denver Nuggets.
Devin Booker leads the series in scoring
Devin Booker dominated Game 6 against LA and will be looking to have another performance like that for the first game of this series. He's become a superstar since his emergence in The Bubble and it doesn't look like he's going to slow down anytime soon. The Lakers were pretty decent at perimeter defense and they still couldn't slow him down. Booker is primed for a monster performance against Denver.
The Nuggets don't have the strongest backcourt and it nearly cost them in their series against the Trail Blazers. It'll be tough for them to stop the Suns, as Booker is going to be playing at an elite level during this matchup. For that reason, Booker has a legitimate chance to outscore Nikola Jokic in this series.
