NBA viewers guide: Biggest matchups, storylines, playoff races - ESPN

The NBA trade deadline and All-Star festivities are behind us, with two more months of regular-season basketball still ahead, and several exciting storylines continuing to unfold.

Our NBA insiders put together a viewers guide just for you on the biggest questions, most exciting games to watch and award races to keep an eye on.

With the postseason picture shaping up in the coming weeks, which team will be the biggest challenger to the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder? Will we see another head-to-head race between Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the MVP, or will a sleeper candidate take the award home this season?

Check out what our NBA insiders had to say and more, including what to watch at the bottom of the standings, with the NBA lottery set for May 10.

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Biggest questions | Games to watch
Award races | Lottery watch
Playoff projections

Who is the biggest threat to the Thunder in the postseason?

That depends on the health of the Denver Nuggets, who pushed the Thunder to seven games in the West semifinals last season. Like Oklahoma City, Denver has been hit hard by injuries throughout the season, but the Nuggets' revamped front office has constructed the best supporting cast of Nikola Jokic's career — if all the key contributors are available for the playoffs.

The Jackals and the rest of the San Antonio Spurs' fan base have the right to be perturbed that they aren't the pick here, particularly considering that Victor Wembanyama and crew went 4-1 against the Thunder this season, including three wins in 12 days in December when Oklahoma City was relatively healthy. But a lack of playoff seasoning among this crew plants enough doubt in the Spurs' ability to get out of the West gauntlet. — Tim