NBA experts’ picks for Nets-Celtics, Pelicans-Suns and every first-round series
What lies ahead in the NBA postseason?
The Brooklyn Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves are advancing as seven seeds, while the Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans captured eight seeds on the final night of the NBA play-in tournament.
Every first-round series is set: Miami Heat vs. Hawks, Boston Celtics vs. Nets, Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns vs. Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies vs. Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks vs. Utah Jazz.
Can Boston slow down Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving? How will Joel Embiid and James Harden fare in the duo’s first playoff series together? What impact will Luka Doncic’s calf strain have on the Mavericks’ chances? Our panel of NBA experts is picking each first-round series.
MORE: What to know for the NBA postseason | Schedules
EAST FIRST ROUND
Miami Heat (1) vs. Atlanta Hawks (8)
Kendra Andrews: Heat in 5
Jamal Collier: Heat in 6
Nick DePaula: Heat in 6
Nick Friedell: Heat in 5
Kirk Goldsberry: Heat in 7
Israel Gutierrez: Heat in 5
Andrew Lopez: Heat in 6
Zach Lowe: Heat in 6
Tim MacMahon: Heat in 6
Bobby Marks: Heat in 6
Dave McMenamin: Heat in 6
Kevin Pelton: Heat in 6
Jorge Sedano: Heat in 5
Ramona Shelburne: Heat in 5
Marc J. Spears: Heat in 6
Ohm Youngmisuk: Heat in 6
Final tally: Heat 16, Hawks 0.
Boston Celtics (2) vs. Brooklyn Nets (7)
Kendra Andrews: Celtics in 7
Jerry Bembry: Nets in 6
Jamal Collier: Celtics in 7
Nick DePaula: Nets in 6
Nick Friedell: Nets in 7
Kirk Goldsberry: Celtics in 7
Israel Gutierrez: Celtics in 7
Richard Jefferson: Nets in 7
Tim Legler: Celtics in 7
Andrew Lopez: Nets in 7
Zach Lowe: Celtics in 6
Tim MacMahon: Celtics in 7
Bobby Marks: Celtics in 7
Dave McMenamin: Nets in 7
Kevin Pelton: Celtics in 7
Omar Raja: Nets in 7
Jorge Sedano: Nets in 7
Ramona Shelburne: Celtics in 7
André Snellings: Celtics in 7
Marc J. Spears: Nets in 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: Nets in 6
Final tally: Celtics 11, Nets 10.
Milwaukee Bucks (3) vs. Chicago Bulls (6)
Kendra Andrews: Bucks in 5
Jerry Bembry: Bucks in 5
Jamal Collier: Bucks in 4
Nick DePaula: Bucks in 5
Nick Friedell: Bucks in 4
Kirk Goldsberry: Bucks in 5
Israel Gutierrez: Bucks in 4
Richard Jefferson: Bucks in 5
Tim Legler: Bucks in 5
Andrew Lopez: Bucks in 6
Zach Lowe: Bucks in 4
Tim MacMahon: Bucks in 5
Bobby Marks: Bucks in 6
Dave McMenamin: Bucks in 4
Kevin Pelton: Bucks in 4
Kendrick Perkins: Bucks in 6
Omar Raja: Bucks in 5
Jorge Sedano: Bucks in 4
Ramona Shelburne: Bucks in 5
André Snellings: Bucks in 4
Marc J. Spears: Bucks in 6
Ohm Youngmisuk: Bucks in 5
Final tally: Bucks 22, Bulls 0.
Philadelphia 76ers (4) vs. Toronto Raptors (5)
Kendra Andrews: 76ers in 6
Jerry Bembry: 76ers in 6
Jamal Collier: 76ers in 7
Nick DePaula: 76ers in 6
Nick Friedell: 76ers in 7
Kirk Goldsberry: Raptors in 7
Israel Gutierrez: 76ers in 7
Richard Jefferson: 76ers in 6
Tim Legler: 76ers in 7
Andrew Lopez: Raptors in 6
Zach Lowe: 76ers in 7
Tim MacMahon: 76ers in 6
Bobby Marks: Raptors in 6
Dave McMenamin: 76ers in 7
Kevin Pelton: Raptors in 6
Kendrick Perkins: 76ers in 6
Omar Raja: 76ers in 7
Jorge Sedano: Raptors in 7
Ramona Shelburne: 76ers in 7
André Snellings: Raptors in 7
Marc J. Spears: 76ers in 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: 76ers in 7
Final tally: 76ers 16, Raptors 6.
WEST FIRST ROUND
Phoenix Suns (1) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (8)
Kendra Andrews: Suns in 4
Jamal Collier: Suns in 4
Nick DePaula: Suns in 5
Nick Friedell: Suns in 4
Kirk Goldsberry: Suns in 4
Israel Gutierrez: Suns in 4
Andrew Lopez: Suns in 5
Zach Lowe: Suns in 5
Tim MacMahon: Suns in 5
Bobby Marks: Suns in 4
Dave McMenamin: Suns in 5
Kevin Pelton: Suns in 5
Jorge Sedano: Suns in 5
Ramona Shelburne: Suns in 5
Marc J. Spears: Suns in 5
Ohm Youngmisuk: Suns in 5
Final tally: Suns 16, Pelicans 0.
Memphis Grizzlies (2) vs Minnesota Timberwolves (7)
Kendra Andrews: Grizzlies in 5
Jerry Bembry: Grizzlies in 6
Jamal Collier: Grizzlies in 6
Nick DePaula: Grizzlies in 6
Nick Friedell: Grizzlies in 5
Kirk Goldsberry: Grizzlies in 6
Israel Gutierrez: Grizzlies in 7
Richard Jefferson: Grizzlies in 5
Tim Legler: Grizzlies in 5
Andrew Lopez: Grizzlies in 5
Zach Lowe: Grizzlies in 6
Tim MacMahon: Grizzlies in 6
Bobby Marks: Grizzlies in 5
Dave McMenamin: Grizzlies in 6
Kevin Pelton: Grizzlies in 6
Kendrick Perkins: Grizzlies in 5
Jorge Sedano: Grizzlies in 6
Ramona Shelburne: Grizzlies in 6
André Snellings: Grizzlies in 6
Marc J. Spears: Grizzlies in 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: Grizzlies in 6
Final tally: Grizzlies 21, Timberwolves 0.
Golden State Warriors (3) vs. Denver Nuggets (6)
Kendra Andrews: Warriors in 5
Jerry Bembry: Warriors in 6
Jamal Collier: Warriors in 6
Nick DePaula: Warriors in 6
Nick Friedell: Warriors in 7
Kirk Goldsberry: Warriors in 6
Israel Gutierrez: Warriors in 7
Richard Jefferson: Warriors in 6
Tim Legler: Warriors in 6
Andrew Lopez: Warriors in 7
Zach Lowe: Warriors in 6
Tim MacMahon: Warriors in 6
Bobby Marks: Warriors in 7
Dave McMenamin: Nuggets in 7
Kevin Pelton: Warriors in 7
Kendrick Perkins: Warriors in 6
Omar Raja: Warriors in 7
Jorge Sedano: Warriors in 7
Ramona Shelburne: Warriors in 5
André Snellings: Warriors in 7
Marc J. Spears: Warriors in 6
Ohm Youngmisuk: Warriors in 7
Final tally: Warriors 21, Nuggets 1.
Dallas Mavericks (4) vs. Utah Jazz (5)
Kendra Andrews: Mavericks in 6
Jerry Bembry: Jazz in 7
Jamal Collier: Mavericks in 6
Nick DePaula: Mavericks in 6
Nick Friedell: Mavericks in 7
Kirk Goldsberry: Jazz in 7
Israel Gutierrez: Mavericks in 6
Richard Jefferson: Jazz in 7
Tim Legler: Mavericks in 7
Andrew Lopez: Mavericks in 6
Zach Lowe: Jazz in 6
Tim MacMahon: Jazz in 6
Bobby Marks: Jazz in 6
Dave McMenamin: Mavericks in 6
Kevin Pelton: Jazz in 6
Kendrick Perkins: Jazz in 7
Omar Raja: Jazz in 6
Jorge Sedano: Mavericks in 7
Ramona Shelburne: Mavericks in 7
André Snellings: Jazz in 6
Marc J. Spears: Jazz in 6
Ohm Youngmisuk: Mavericks in 5
Final tally: Jazz 11, Mavericks 11.
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