NBA playoffs: Scores, schedules, matchups and predictions for first round
The NBA playoffs have begun with eight first-round matchups – four in the Eastern Conference and four more in the West.
The first-round series are best-of-7 contests with a team needing to win four games to advance to the next round. The latest a series could run – if it reaches a full seven games – is April 30.
The Milwaukee Bucks earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference and the Denver Nuggets earned the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
Here is everything you need to know for the first round, including scores, schedules, TV information, storylines and predictions for every series:
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EASTERN CONFERENCE
*-if necessary
No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 8 Miami Heat
Miami wins series, 4-1
Game 1: Heat 130, Bucks 117
Game 2: Bucks 138, Heat 122
Game 3: Heat 121, Bucks 99
Game 4: Heat 119, Bucks 114
Game 5: Heat 128, Bucks 126 (OT)
Season series: Tied, 2-2
Key storyline: The Heat had the No. 25 offense and the No. 27 3-point shooting team, and that’s going to be a problem against Milwaukee’s No. 4 defense. The Bucks’ offense, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, will make the Heat pay for those missed shots..
Zillgitt's prediction: Bucks in five
No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Atlanta Hawks
Boston wins series, 4-2
Game 1: Celtics 112, Hawks 99
Game 2: Celtics 119, Hawks 106
Game 3: Hawks 130, Celtics 122
Game 4: Celtics 129, Hawks 121
Game 5: Hawks 119, Celtics 117
Game 6: Celtics 128, Hawks 120
Season series: Celtics won, 3-0
Key storyline: Hawks coach Quin Snyder helped improved a dangerous offense (Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, Bogdan Bogdanovic) since taking over on Feb. 26, but the defense still has issues and that will be a problem against Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum and the Celtics’ No. 2 offense.
Zillgitt's prediction: Celtics in five
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No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 6 Brooklyn Nets
Philadelphia wins series, 4-0
Game 1: 76ers 121, Nets 101
Game 2: 76ers 96, Nets 84
Game 3: 76ers 102, Nets 97
Game 4: 76ers 96, Nets 88
Season series: 76ers won, 4-0
Key storyline: The Nets have thrived under tumultuous conditions, but stopping Joel Embiid, James Harden and the Sixers offense is a difficult ask for the Nets in a seven-game series.
Zillgitt's prediction: Sixers in five
No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 New York Knicks
New York wins series, 4-1
Game 1: Knicks 101, Cavaliers 97
Game 2: Cavaliers 107, Knicks 90
Game 3: Knicks 99, Cavaliers 79
Game 4: Knicks 102, Cavaliers 93
Game 5: Knicks 106, Cavaliers 95
Season series: Knicks won, 3-1
Key storyline: The Knicks need to find a way to score on Cleveland’s top-ranked defense, and the Cavs, just 20-21 on the road, likely will need a win at Madison Square Garden, which means they need Donovan Mitchell to score efficiently.
Zillgitt's prediction: Cavs in seven
WESTERN CONFERENCE
*-if necessary
No. 1 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves
Denver wins series, 4-1
Game 1: Nuggets 109, Timberwovles 80
Game 2: Nuggets 122, Timberwolves 113
Game 3: Nuggets 120, Timberwolves 111
Game 4: Timberwolves 114, Nuggets 108 (OT)
Game 5: Nuggets 112, Timberwolves 109
Season series: Tied, 2-2.
Key storyline: Minnesota center Rudy Gobert, coming off a one-game suspension for punching teammate Kyle Anderson in the season finale, has a bad back. That puts a lot of pressure on Karl-Anthony Towns and the Timberwolves to stop two-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
Zillgitt's prediction: Nuggets in six
No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies vs. No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles wins series, 4-2
Game 1: Lakers 128, Grizzlies 112
Game 2: Grizzlies 103, Lakes 93
Game 3: Lakers 111, Grizzlies 101
Game 4: Lakers 117, Grizzlies 111 (OT)
Game 5: Grizzlies 116, Lakers 99
Game 6: Lakers 125, Grizzlies 85
Season series: Lakers won, 2-1
Key storyline: The new guard (Memphis and Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane) faces a compelling challenge from the old guard (the Lakers and LeBron James and Anthony Davis). This is an atypical 2-7 series with pressure on both sides.
Zillgitt's prediction: Grizzlies in seven
No. 3 Sacramento Kings vs. No. 6 Golden State Warriors
Golden State wins series, 4-3
Game 1: Kings 126, Warriors 123
Game 2: Kings 114, Warriors 106
Game 3: Warriors 114, Kings 97
Game 4: Warriors 126, Kings 125
Game 5: Warriors 123, Kings 116
Game 6: Kings 118, Warriors 99
Game 7: Warriors 120, Kings 100
Season series: Warriors won, 3-1
Key storyline: Can the Kings, making their first playoff appearance since 2006 behind the strong play of Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox, handle the pressure of playing the defending champs and Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green? Both defenses have their hands full with the offensive movement of the other team.
Zillgitt's prediction: Warriors in six
No. 4 Phoenix Suns vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers
Phoenix wins series, 4-1
Game 1: Clippers 115, Suns 110
Game 2: Suns 123, Clippers 109
Game 3: Suns 129, Clippers 124
Game 4: Suns 112, Clippers 100
Game 5: Suns 136, Clippers 130
Season series: Tied, 2-2
Key storyline: No Paul George to start the series for the Clippers, and Kawhi Leonard might not be enough against a loaded Suns squad with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton that has excelled in short time since acquiring Durant.
Zillgitt's prediction: Suns in six
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoffs: First-round scores, schedules, game times, TV info
