The picks are in! Our NBA experts make their play-in and first-round predictions

NBA

What lies ahead in the NBA postseason?

The Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers kick things off tonight with the No. 7 vs. No. 8 game in the Eastern Conference play-in, followed by the 7-8 game in the Western Conference between the LA Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves. (Here’s a refresher on how the play-in tournament works.)

Wednesday’s games feature the Atlanta Hawks vs. the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans vs. the San Antonio Spurs in each conference’s 9-10 matchup.

Which playoff hopefuls will advance to the first round?

While four teams await their opponents, four series are set: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors, Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks vs. Utah Jazz.

How will Joel Embiid and James Harden fare in the duo’s first series together? What impact will Luka Doncic‘s calf strain impact the Mavericks’ chances?

Our panel of NBA experts is picking each play-in tournament game and first-round series.

MORE: The 75 things to know for the NBA postseason | Schedules

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EAST PLAY-IN


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Kendra Andrews: Nets

Jamal Collier: Nets

Nick DePaula: Nets

Nick Friedell: Nets

Kirk Goldsberry: Nets

Israel Gutierrez: Nets

Richard Jefferson: Cavs

Tim Legler: Nets

Andrew Lopez: Nets

Tim MacMahon: Nets

Bobby Marks: Nets

Dave McMenamin: Nets

Kevin Pelton: Nets

Kendrick Perkins: Cavs

Omar Raja: Nets

Jorge Sedano: Nets

Ramona Shelburne: Nets

André Snellings: Nets

Marc J. Spears: Nets

Ohm Youngmisuk: Nets


Final tally: Nets 18, Cavaliers 2.

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Kendra Andrews: Hawks

Jamal Collier: Hawks

Nick DePaula: Hornets

Nick Friedell: Hawks

Kirk Goldsberry: Hawks

Israel Gutierrez: Hornets

Richard Jefferson: Hawks

Tim Legler: Hornets

Andrew Lopez: Hawks

Tim MacMahon: Hawks

Bobby Marks: Hornets

Dave McMenamin: Hornets

Kevin Pelton: Hawks

Kendrick Perkins: Hawks

Omar Raja: Hawks

Jorge Sedano: Hawks

Ramona Shelburne: Hawks

André Snellings: Hawks

Marc J. Spears: Hawks

Ohm Youngmisuk: Hawks


Final tally: Hawks 15, Hornets 5.

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WEST PLAY-IN


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Kendra Andrews: Clippers

Jamal Collier: Clippers

Nick DePaula: Clippers

Nick Friedell: Timberwolves

Kirk Goldsberry: Timberwolves

Israel Gutierrez: Clippers

Richard Jefferson: Clippers

Tim Legler: Timberwolves

Andrew Lopez: Clippers

Tim MacMahon: Clippers

Bobby Marks: Clippers

Dave McMenamin: Clippers

Kevin Pelton: Timberwolves

Kendrick Perkins: Clippers

Omar Raja: Clippers

Jorge Sedano: Clippers

Ramona Shelburne: Clippers

André Snellings: Timberwolves

Marc J. Spears: Clippers

Ohm Youngmisuk: Clippers


Final tally: Clippers 15, Timberwolves 5.

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Kendra Andrews: Pelicans

Jamal Collier: Pelicans

Nick DePaula: Pelicans

Nick Friedell: Pelicans

Kirk Goldsberry: Spurs

Israel Gutierrez: Pelicans

Richard Jefferson: Pelicans

Tim Legler: Pelicans

Andrew Lopez: Pelicans

Tim MacMahon: Pelicans

Bobby Marks: Pelicans

Dave McMenamin: Spurs

Kevin Pelton: Pelicans

Kendrick Perkins: Pelicans

Omar Raja: Pelicans

Jorge Sedano: Pelicans

Ramona Shelburne: Pelicans

André Snellings: Pelicans

Marc J. Spears: Pelicans

Ohm Youngmisuk: Spurs


Final tally: Pelicans 17, Spurs 3.

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EAST FIRST ROUND


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Kendra Andrews: 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

Tim MacMahon: Bucks in 5

Bobby Marks: Bucks in 6

Dave McMenamin: 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 19, Bulls 0.

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Kendra Andrews: 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

Tim MacMahon: 76ers in 6

Bobby Marks: Raptors in 6

Dave McMenamin: 76ers in 7

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 14, Raptors 5.

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WEST FIRST ROUND


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Kendra Andrews: Warriors in 5

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

Tim MacMahon: Warriors in 6

Bobby Marks: Warriors in 7

Dave McMenamin: Nuggets 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 18, Nuggets 1.

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Kendra Andrews: Mavericks in 6

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

Tim MacMahon: Jazz in 6

Bobby Marks: Jazz in 6

Dave McMenamin: Mavericks in 6

Kendrick Perkins: Jazz in 7

Omar Raja: Jazz in 6

Jorge Sedano: Mavericks in 7

Ramona Shelburne: Mavericks in 7

André Snellings: Mavericks in 6

Marc J. Spears: Jazz in 6

Ohm Youngmisuk: Mavericks in 5


Final tally: Mavericks 12, Jazz 7.

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