Denver Nuggets: Phoenix Suns series preview

Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns series preview: Battle of the bigs

This matchup is likely to be a series definer, with the battle between two of the best big men in the NBA in Deandre Ayton and Nikola Jokic. And boy is it likely to be a treat for fans.

Both players have started the playoffs strong, with Ayton averaging 15.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per contest, while Jokic has averaged an insane 33 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists.

While Jokic is overall the better player, the Serbian superstar has praised his opponent before the series begins. He said that Ayton “guards him well,” with the stats proving that Ayton is a tough opponent for Jokic.

The Joker is still likely to get his buckets, however Ayton will be his toughest matchup in the playoffs thus far, as the Suns star big man will surely make life difficult for the MVP frontrunner. Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic managed to limit Jokic’s abilities as a playmaker, however Joker still managed to get buckets, meaning Ayton may need to use a different strategy.

While Ayton will struggle defending Jokic, the Nuggets superstar will also have trouble defending Ayton, as the big man has been able to score buckets this post season. Their battle is sure to be a defining point for the season, with the player who gets the upper hand in each game providing a valuable boost for their respective teams. This matchup is sure to be the story to watch this series.