2021 NBA Playoffs First-Round Predictions
With the NBA playoffs set to start today, our experts make their first-round predictions.
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 8 Washington Wizards
Howard Beck: Sixers in 5
Chris Herring: Sixers in 5
Rohan Nadkarni: Sixers in 4
Michael Pina: Sixers in 6
Jeremy Woo: Sixers in 5
Elizabeth Swinton: Sixers in 4
Ben Pickman: Sixers in 4
Michael Shapiro: Sixers in 4
Robin Lundberg: Sixers in 4
Jarrel Harris: Sixers in 5
No. 2 Brooklyn Nets vs. No. 7 Boston Celtics
Beck: Nets in 5
Herring: Nets in 5
Nadkarni: Nets in 5
Pina: Nets in 6
Woo: Nets in 5
Swinton: Nets in 4
Pickman: Nets in 4
Shapiro: Nets in 5
Lundberg: Nets in 4
Harris: Nets in 5
No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 6 Miami Heat
Beck: Bucks in 7
Herring: Bucks in 6
Nadkarni: Bucks in 5
Pina: Bucks in 7
Woo: Bucks in 7
Swinton: Bucks in 6
Pickman: Bucks in 5
Shapiro: Bucks in 5
Lundberg: Bucks in 6
Harris: Bucks in 6
No. 4 New York Knicks vs. No. 5 Atlanta Hawks
Beck: Knicks in 7
Herring: Knicks in 7
Nadkarni: Knicks in 7
Pina: Hawks in 5
Woo: Hawks in 7
Swinton: Knicks in 5
Pickman: Knicks in 6
Shapiro: Hawks in 7
Lundberg: Knicks in 7
Harris: Knicks in 7
Western Conference
No. 1 Utah Jazz vs. No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies
Beck: Jazz in 5
Herring: Jazz in 4
Nadkarni: Jazz in 7
Pina: Jazz in 5
Woo: Jazz in 5
Swinton: Jazz in 4
Pickman: Jazz in 6
Shapiro: Jazz in 6
Lundberg: Jazz in 4
Harris: Jazz in 5
No. 2 Phoenix Suns vs. No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers
Beck: Lakers in 6
Herring: Suns in 7
Nadkarni: Lakers in 6
Pina: Lakers in 7
Woo: Suns in 7
Swinton: Suns in 7
Pickman: Suns in 7
Shapiro: Lakers in 7
Lundberg: Lakers in 6
Harris: Lakers in 6
No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Portland Trail Blazers
Beck: Nuggets in 7
Herring: Nuggets in 7
Nadkarni: Nuggets in 6
Pina: Blazers in 6
Pickman: Nuggets in 6
Woo: Nuggets in 6
Swinton: Nuggets in 6
Shapiro: Nuggets in 7
Lundberg: Nuggets in 7
Harris: Nuggets in 7
No. 4 LA Clippers vs. No. 5 Dallas Mavericks
Beck: Clippers in 6
Herring: Clippers in 7
Nadkarni: Clippers in 6
Pina: Clippers in 5
Swinton: Mavs in 7
Woo: Clippers in 6
Pickman: Clippers in 6
Shapiro: Clippers in 5
Lundberg: Clippers in 6
Harris: Clippers in 6
More NBA Playoff Coverage:
• It’s Time for Bradley Beal to Get His Due
• The Superfans Are Ready
• Atlanta Is Falling Hard for the Hawks