After climbing a mountain in the first round of the NBA Western Conference playoffs, the Denver Nuggets know an even bigger peak awaits against the Los Angeles Clippers during Round 2.
"They have terrific defenders, Kawhi (Leonard), Paul George (and) Patrick Beverley," Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said. "The last time they played us they got into us. Very physical team, so we'll have our hands full with that matchup."
The two clubs meet in Game 1 on Thursday inside the NBA bubble near Orlando.
The third-seeded Nuggets rallied from the brink of elimination and advanced with an 80-78 victory in Game 7 of their first round series against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.