How playoff teams match up in the first round

A look at the eight first-round series in the NBA playoffs, which start this weekend:

WESTERN CONFERENCE

No. 1 MINNESOTA (58-24) vs. No. 8 DENVER (43-29)

Season series: Timberwolves won 3-1, with Earl Boykins helping force Sam Cassell into seven turnovers in Denver's lone win.

Storyline: Minnesota has its best opportunity to make it out of the first round after seven consecutive opening-round ousters.

Key matchups: Kevin Garnett vs. Nene. Garnett did a little of everything during the season series, including playing point guard in the teams' final meeting. But the Nuggets did have some success when they fronted Garnett in the low post and got physical with him under the boards. Sam Cassell vs. Andre Miller. Few players in the league display the poise and talent to match Cassell, a clutch shooter who has added the 3-point shot to his vast midrange arsenal. Miller will try to engineer as many transition points as possible, because if the Nuggets get stuck playing a half-court game they're in trouble.

X-Factor: Somebody will have to stop Carmelo Anthony in one-on-one situations, and the best man for the job is Latrell Sprewell — one of two players, along with Cassell, who brought a wealth of postseason experience to Minnesota.

Little-known fact: Three former No. 1 picks of the Nuggets will be playing for other teams in the postseason: Dikembe Mutombo of the Knicks (1991), Rodney Rogers of the Nets (1993), and James Posey of the Grizzlies (1999).

Prediction: Timberwolves in 6.

No. 2 LOS ANGELES LAKERS (56-26) vs. No. 7 HOUSTON ROCKETS (45-37)

Season series: Tied 2-2, with Yao Ming averaging 23.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in the Rockets' two victories.

Storyline: The first postseason meeting between Shaquille O'Neal and Yao, the most dominant centers of this generation and the next. Also a playoff reunion of coaches Phil Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy, bitter rivals from their days in the Eastern Conference.

Key matchup: Kobe Bryant vs. Jim Jackson/Cuttino Mobley. A mismatch no matter who defends Bryant, the league's best clutch shooter, whose buzzer-beater to force overtime vs. Portland on Wednesday night was beyond incredible.

X-Factor: O'Neal shot just 49 percent from the foul line, his worst percentage in seven years. Yao shot 81 percent at the line.