NBA: 5 most compelling first-round playoff matchups in 1-16 seeding format

NBA’s most compelling matchup No. 4: Denver Nuggets vs. Indiana Pacers

Another one of the most compelling first-round matchups includes the Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers who are almost mirror images of each other. The Nuggets led by Nikola Jokic is one of the most underrated teams in the Western Conference. The same could be said about the Pacers, which are led by Victor Oladipo and Malcolm Brogdon.

This is actually a matchup that could represent one of the first upsets in this current format. Especially if Oladipo is healthy and can shake off the rust that he clearly struggled with when he made his return after recovering from his injury, you can make the case that the Pacers are better than their 11th ranking in this format.

On the other hand, you could probably say the same about the Nuggets considering they reside in the Western Conference and play a much more difficult schedule than the Pacers. Either way, there would be plenty of offensive fireworks in this matchup.

If I had to choose, I’d put my money on Victor Oladipo and the Pacers to pull off the upset.