The NBA is nearly down to its elite eight of teams that will be competing for this year’s championship, and every team still alive now has a somewhat realistic path to the Finals.
The first round was eventful in both the predictable outcomes and a splash of upsets thought to be unrealistic at the end of the regular season, most notably the eighth-seeded Miami Heat knocking out the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference. The Heat will now face the New York Knicks, who have exceeded all pre-season expectations themselves.
In the other series in the East — between two teams expected to make it this far — the Boston Celtics–Philadelphia 76ers winner could determine the eventual East champion.
Meanwhile in the Western Conference, Nikola Jokic and the top-seeded Denver Nuggets will look to overcome their past playoff struggles and fend off a dangerous Phoenix Suns, who are led by Devin Booker and trade deadline addition Kevin Durant.
Who will advance? Our NBA experts reveal their picks for each conference semifinal winner.
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Nuggets-Suns keys
EAST SEMIFINALS
Kendra Andrews: 76ers in 7
Jerry Bembry: Celtics in 6
Nick DePaula: 76ers in 7
Nick Friedell: Celtics in 6
Kirk Goldsberry: 76ers in 7
Israel Gutierrez: Celtics in 7
Tim Legler: Celtics in 6
Tim MacMahon: Celtics in 7
Bobby Marks: 76ers in 6
Dave McMenamin: Celtics in 7
Kevin Pelton: Celtics in 7
Jorge Sedano: Celtics in 6
Ramona Shelburne: 76ers in 7
André Snellings: 76ers in 7
Marc Spears: Celtics in 6
Ohm Youngmisuk: Celtics in 7
Final tally: Celtics 10, 76ers 6
Kendra Andrews: Knicks in 6
Jerry Bembry: Knicks in 6
Nick DePaula: Heat in 6
Nick Friedell: Knicks in 5
Kirk Goldsberry: Knicks in 7
Israel Gutierrez: Heat in 6
Tim Legler: Knicks in 7
Tim MacMahon: Knicks in 7
Bobby Marks: Heat in 7
Dave McMenamin: Heat in 6
Kevin Pelton: Knicks in 7
Jorge Sedano: Heat in 6
Ramona Shelburne: Knicks in 7
André Snellings: Heat in 6
Marc Spears: Knicks in 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: Knicks in 7
Final tally: Knicks 10, Heat 6
WEST SEMIFINALS
Kendra Andrews: Suns in 6
Jerry Bembry: Nuggets in 7
Nick DePaula: Suns in 6
Nick Friedell: Suns in 6
Kirk Goldsberry: Suns in 7
Israel Gutierrez: Suns in 6
Tim Legler: Suns in 6
Tim MacMahon: Suns in 6
Bobby Marks: Nuggets in 7
Dave McMenamin: Suns in 6
Kevin Pelton: Suns in 6
Jorge Sedano: Suns in 7
Ramona Shelburne: Nuggets in 7
André Snellings: Suns in 6
Marc Spears: Suns in 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: Nuggets in 7
Final tally: Suns 12, Nuggets 4
Source: www.espn.com