What awaits ahead in the NBA postseason?
The Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers start 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 matches feature Atlanta Hawks vs. The Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans vs. San Antonio Spurs in each conference 9-10 matchup.
Which playoff hopes advance to the first round?
While four teams await their opponents, there are four series: 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 load affect the Mavericks’ chances?
Our panel of NBA experts selects each play-in tournament game and first-round series.
MORE: The 75 Things to Know for the NBA Post-Season | Schedules
EAST PLAY-IN
Kendra Andrews: Nets
Jamal necklace: 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
George Sedan: Nets
Ramona Shelburne: Nets
André Snellings: Nets
Marc J. Spears: Nets
Ohm Youngmisuk: Nets
Final statement: Nets 18, Cavaliers 0.
Kendra Andrews: Hawks
Jamal necklace: 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
George Sedan: Hawks
Ramona Shelburne: Hawks
André Snellings: Hawks
Marc J. Spears: Hawks
Ohm Youngmisuk: Hawks
Final statement: Hawks 13, Hornets 5.
WEST PLAY-IN
Kendra Andrews: Mowers
Jamal necklace: Mowers
Nick DePaula: Mowers
Nick Friedell: Timberwolves
Kirk Goldsberry: Timberwolves
Israel Gutierrez: Mowers
Tim Legler: Timberwolves
Andrew Lopez: Mowers
Tim MacMahon: Mowers
Bobby Marks: Mowers
Dave McMenamin: Mowers
Kevin Pelton: Timberwolves
Omar Raja: Mowers
George Sedan: Mowers
Ramona Shelburne: Mowers
André Snellings: Timberwolves
Marc J. Spears: Mowers
Ohm Youngmisuk: Mowers
Final statement: Clippers 13, Timberwolves 5.
Kendra Andrews: Pelicans
Jamal necklace: 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
George Sedan: Pelicans
Ramona Shelburne: Pelicans
André Snellings: Pelicans
Marc J. Spears: Pelicans
Ohm Youngmisuk: Spurs
Final statement: Pelicans 15, Spurs 3.
EAST FIRST ROUND
Kendra Andrews: Pants and 5
Jamal necklace: Trousers and 4
Nick DePaula: Pants and 5
Nick Friedell: Trousers and 4
Kirk Goldsberry: Pants and 5
Israel Gutierrez: Trousers and 4
Tim Legler: Pants and 5
Andrew Lopez: Trousers and 6
Tim MacMahon: Pants and 5
Bobby Marks: Trousers and 6
Dave McMenamin: Trousers and 4
Omar Raja: Pants and 5
George Sedan: Trousers and 4
Ramona Shelburne: Pants and 5
André Snellings: Trousers and 4
Marc J. Spears: Trousers and 6
Ohm Youngmisuk: Pants and 5
Final statement: Bucks 17, Bulls 0.
Kendra Andrews: 76ere i 6
Jamal necklace: 76ere i 7
Nick DePaula: 76ere i 6
Nick Friedell: 76ere i 7
Kirk Goldsberry: Raptors and 7
Israel Gutierrez: 76ere i 7
Tim Legler: 76ere i 7
Andrew Lopez: Birds of prey in 6
Tim MacMahon: 76ere i 6
Bobby Marks: Birds of prey in 6
Dave McMenamin: 76ere i 7
Omar Raja: 76ere i 7
George Sedan: Raptors and 7
Ramona Shelburne: 76ere i 7
André Snellings: Raptors and 7
Marc J. Spears: 76ere i 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: 76ere i 7
Final statement: 76ers 12, Raptors 5.
WEST FIRST ROUND
Kendra Andrews: Warriors in 5
Jamal necklace: 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
George Sedan: 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 statement: Warriors 16, Nuggets 1.
Kendra Andrews: Mavericks and 6
Jamal necklace: Mavericks and 6
Nick DePaula: Mavericks and 6
Nick Friedell: Mavericks and 7
Kirk Goldsberry: Jazz and 7
Tim Legler: Mavericks and 7
Andrew Lopez: Mavericks and 6
Israel Gutierrez: Mavericks and 6
Tim MacMahon: Mavericks and 7
Bobby Marks: Jazz and 6
Dave McMenamin: Mavericks and 6
Omar Raja: Jazz and 6
George Sedan: Mavericks and 7
Ramona Shelburne: Mavericks and 7
André Snellings: Mavericks and 6
Marc J. Spears: Jazz and 6
Ohm Youngmisuk: Mavericks and 5
Final statement: Mavericks 13, Jazz 4.