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
EAST PLAY-IN
Kendra Andrews: Nets
Jamal Collier: Nets
Nick DePaula: Nets
Nick Friedell: Nets
Kirk Goldsberry: Nets
Israel Gutierrez: Nets
Tim Legler: Nets
Andrew Lopez: Nets
Tim MacMahon: Nets
Bobby Marks: Nets
Dave McMenamin: Nets
Kevin Pelton: Nets
Omar Raja: Nets
Jorge Sedano: Nets
Ramona Shelburne: Nets
André Snellings: Nets
Marc J. Spears: Nets
Ohm Youngmisuk: Nets
Final tally: Nets 18, Cavaliers 0.
Kendra Andrews: Hawks
Jamal Collier: Hawks
Nick DePaula: Hornets
Nick Friedell: Hawks
Kirk Goldsberry: Hawks
Israel Gutierrez: Hornets
Tim Legler: Hornets
Andrew Lopez: Hawks
Tim MacMahon: Hawks
Bobby Marks: Hornets
Dave McMenamin: Hornets
Kevin Pelton: Hawks
Omar Raja: Hawks
Jorge Sedano: Hawks
Ramona Shelburne: Hawks
André Snellings: Hawks
Marc J. Spears: Hawks
Ohm Youngmisuk: Hawks
Final tally: Hawks 13, Hornets 5.
WEST PLAY-IN
Kendra Andrews: Clippers
Jamal Collier: Clippers
Nick DePaula: Clippers
Nick Friedell: Timberwolves
Kirk Goldsberry: Timberwolves
Israel Gutierrez: Clippers
Tim Legler: Timberwolves
Andrew Lopez: Clippers
Tim MacMahon: Clippers
Bobby Marks: Clippers
Dave McMenamin: Clippers
Kevin Pelton: Timberwolves
Omar Raja: Clippers
Jorge Sedano: Clippers
Ramona Shelburne: Clippers
André Snellings: Timberwolves
Marc J. Spears: Clippers
Ohm Youngmisuk: Clippers
Final tally: Clippers 13, Timberwolves 5.
Kendra Andrews: Pelicans
Jamal Collier: Pelicans
Nick DePaula: Pelicans
Nick Friedell: Pelicans
Kirk Goldsberry: Spurs
Israel Gutierrez: Pelicans
Tim Legler: Pelicans
Andrew Lopez: Pelicans
Tim MacMahon: Pelicans
Bobby Marks: Pelicans
Dave McMenamin: Spurs
Kevin Pelton: Pelicans
Omar Raja: Pelicans
Jorge Sedano: Pelicans
Ramona Shelburne: Pelicans
André Snellings: Pelicans
Marc J. Spears: Pelicans
Ohm Youngmisuk: Spurs
Final tally: Pelicans 15, Spurs 3.
EAST FIRST ROUND
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
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
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 17, Bulls 0.
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
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
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 12, Raptors 5.
WEST FIRST ROUND
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
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
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 16, Nuggets 1.
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
Tim Legler: Mavericks in 7
Andrew Lopez: Mavericks in 6
Israel Gutierrez: Mavericks in 6
Tim MacMahon: Mavericks in 7
Bobby Marks: Jazz in 6
Dave McMenamin: Mavericks in 6
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 13, Jazz 4.
