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NBA Playoffs: Expert Predictions for Every First-Round Series

The Crossover staff makes picks for each series.
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The NBA playoffs tip off on Saturday. Who will advance to the second round? Our staff makes its series predictions.

Eastern Conference

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) controls the basketball during the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings.

Miami Heat (1) vs. Atlanta Hawks (8)

Howard Beck: Heat in 7 
John Gonzalez: Heat in 5
Jarrel Harris: Heat in 6
Chris Herring: Heat in 6 
Robin Lundberg: Heat in 6
Chris Mannix: Heat in 6
Ashley Nicole Moss: Heat in 6
Rohan Nadkarni: Heat in 5
Ben Pickman: Heat in 5
Michael Pina: Heat in 7
Michael Shapiro: Heat in 5
Elizabeth Swinton: Heat in 5
Kyle Wood: Heat in 6

Boston Celtics (2) vs. Brooklyn Nets (7)

Beck: Celtics in 6
Gonzalez: Nets in 7
Harris: Nets in 7
Herring: Celtics in 5
Mannix: Celtics in 6
Pina: Celtics in 5
Moss: Celtics in 7
Nadkarni: Nets in 6
Shapiro: Celtics in 6
Pickman: Nets in 6
Swinton: Celtics in 6
Lundberg: Nets in 6
Wood: Celtics in 7

Milwaukee Bucks (3) vs. Chicago Bulls (6)

Beck: Bucks in 5
Gonzalez: Bucks in 4
Harris: Bucks in 5
Herring: Bucks in 4
Mannix: Bucks in 5
Moss: Bucks in 5
Nadkarni: Bucks in 4
Pickman: Bucks in 5
Pina: Bucks in 4
Shapiro: Bucks in 4
Swinton: Bucks in 4
Lundberg: Bucks in 4
Wood: Bucks in 4

Philadelphia 76ers (4) vs. Toronto Raptors (5)

Beck: Raptors in 7
Gonzalez: Sixers in 7
Harris: 76ers in 6
Herring: 76ers in 7
Mannix: 76ers in 7
Moss: 76ers in 7
Nadkarni: Raptors in 
Pickman: 76ers in 6
Pina: Raptors in 6
Shapiro: 76ers in 7
Swinton: 76ers in 5
Lundberg: Raptors in 7
Wood: 76ers in 6

Western Conference

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1)

Phoenix Suns (1) vs. Pelicans (8)

Beck: Suns in 5
Gonzalez: Suns in 4
Harris: Suns in 4
Herring: Suns in 4
Lundberg: Suns in 4
Mannix: Suns in 5
Nadkarni: Suns in 4
Moss:  Suns in 6
Pickman: Suns in 4
Pina: Suns in 5
Shapiro: Suns in 4
Swinton: Suns in 5
Wood: Suns in 5

Memphis Grizzlies (2) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (7)

Beck: Grizzlies in 7
Gonzalez: Grizzlies in 6
Harris: Grizzlies in 6
Herring: Grizzlies in 6
Lundberg: Grizzlies in 6
Mannix: Grizzlies in 5
Nadkarni: Grizzlies in 7
Pickman: Grizzlies in 6
Pina: Grizzlies in 7
Moss: Grizzlies in 6
Shapiro: Grizzlies in 6
Swinton: Grizzlies in 6
Wood: Grizzlies in 6

Golden State Warriors (3) vs. Denver Nuggets (6)

Beck: Warriors in 5
Gonzalez: Warriors in 6
Harris: Warriors in 7
Herring: Warriors in 6
Lundberg: Warriors in 6
Mannix: Warriors in 7
Moss: Warriors in 6
Nadkarni: Warriors in 7
Pickman: Warriors in 5
Pina: Warriors in 7
Shapiro: Warriors in 5
Swinton: Nuggets in 7
Wood: Warriors in 6

Dallas Mavericks (4) vs. Utah Jazz (5)

Beck: Mavericks in 7
Gonzalez: Mavericks in 6
Harris: Jazz in 4
Herring: Jazz in 6
Lundberg: Jazz in 7
Mannix: Jazz in 7
Pickman: Jazz in 7
Pina: Jazz in 6
Moss: Jazz in 5
Nadkarni: Jazz in 6
Shapiro: Jazz in 6
Swinton: Jazz in 6
Wood: Jazz in 7

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