The Nuggets returned to the stage with Maury Povich and a manila envelope, just as we had requested. In the case of the 64-year-old Los Angeles Lakers, you are their father.

Denver will welcome the Lakers back to Ball Arena on Saturday like family. Cup your ears from Trinidad to Windsor, and you can still hear the “Who’s your daddy?” chant that echoed across Ball Arena on Ring Night last October.

This occurred just months after the Nuggets defeated the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, exorcising a few postseason demons in the process.

It was the culmination of a string of impressive performances by the Nuggets last playoffs, culminating in their first NBA championship. Of course, most of the discussion in the days following Denver’s sweep was about how the Lakers put up the best performance ever by a swept team — the lamest praise of all time — and whether or not LeBron James would retire. (Spoiler alert: He didn’t.)

So, folks, here we go again. Everything is the same, but different. The Nuggets are huge favorites. The figures remain remarkable. Denver has an eight-game win run versus the Lakers. The Nuggets have outscored them by 32 points in key situations over the last two seasons, according to ESPN. The Nuggets perform at their peak against Los Angeles.

The reason: Nikola Jokic

The Joker would prefer that we never talk about him or his chances of winning his third MVP award in four years. The more attention he gets, the more he defers, which is why he is one of the best passers of all time, regardless of position.

His desire to dwell in the shadows remains a contrast to his game. He desires the moment. There is no sense of panic. The Nuggets win late because Jokic is as cool as a lagoon, and Jamal Murray has Prestone pouring through his veins. Last postseason, Jokic hit 3-point rainbow shots against the Lakers, which caused Anthony Davis to throw his arms up in bewilderment.

Jokic is more than just reliable. He will always exist. When considering why the Nuggets will win this series — I predict Denver in five games — it all starts with the Joker on several levels.

First, who will slow him down? Rui Hachimura? Please. He caused a few clumsy possessions last year, but he can’t protect Jokic with the help of those people in bearskin hats at Buckingham Palace. If anything, he provides a distraction to keep Davis from facing off against Jokic on every possession.

Everyone can agree that Jokic will get his. And if he wins the series against Davis, as he did in the final three games of last year’s conference finals, he will complete the sweep. Jokic averaged 25.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 11.0 assists while shooting 36% from three-point range. Davis responded with 22 points, 15.3 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks. It doesn’t seem like much until you realize that the four games were decided by an average of six points.

The disparity worsened during the regular season. Jokic scored 29.3 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists, while Davis had 22.3 points and 9.3 rebounds. Jokic radiates no ego and appropriately described the Lakers as the “toughest” opponent Denver faced throughout its championship run. His admiration for them is genuine. He’s hard not to like. And even more difficult to contain.

Coach Michael Malone does not take anything for granted, noting that Denver’s winning streak means nothing. He’s correct. Sort of. The Nuggets have maintained their supremacy because the most important matchup — Jokic vs. the rest of the world — favors them.

This isn’t to say the Lakers have no chance. I’d never say that about a LeBron James squad. He is as ageless as Cindy Crawford, having lost only one first-round playoff series in his career. As a result, the Lakers are dangerous. They’ve demonstrated they can compete with the Nuggets. They just haven’t proven they can beat the Nuggets.

Some believe the Lakers would be better suited facing the Nuggets right now. I agree. When your best player is approaching 40 years old, fatigue becomes an issue. Los Angeles will be fresher and better than a year ago thanks to the increased offense provided by Hachimura and D’Angelo Russell.

Recognizing that the Lakers will not solve Jokic, the only way this series gets nasty is through Russell. His impact this season has been difficult to overlook. He’s shooting 41% from 3, the same as a year ago. The timing is more important than the number. He’s making big shots. Similar to the play-in game in New Orleans.

Will he be a factor? In the Western Conference Finals, he became a liability, unable to defend Murray. He withered under the spotlight, averaging 6.3 points and 3.5 assists while Murray scored 32.5 points a game. Russell will reduce the distance, but not much.

Whether it’s April or late May, this is the series we wanted. Lakers vs Nuggets. Denver will have four more victories. And more proof of paternity.