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No. 1 BOSTON CELTICS vs. No. 8 CHICAGO BULLS
Season series • Split, 2-2.
Storyline • It's Boston's first time as the No. 1 seed in the East since 2008 — which was also the last time the Celtics hoisted the Larry O'Brien Trophy to end the season. And the Bulls, who seemed seriously dysfunctional at times this season, now get new life and a chance to enjoy Dwyane Wade's playoff savvy.
Key Matchup • Isaiah Thomas vs. Rajon Rondo. Thomas got his points in the regular season (averaging 24.8 vs. the Bulls), but the matchup will be crucial between the new Celtics star and the last point guard to take the Celtics to a title.
Prediction • Celtics in 6.
SERIES Schedule
Sunday: at Boston, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday: at Boston, 6 p.m.
Friday: at Chicago, 5 p.m.
April 23: at Chicago, 4:30 p.m.
x-April 26: at Boston, TBD
x-April 28: at Chicago, TBD
x-April 30: at Boston, TBD
x-if necessary
No. 2 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS vs. No. 7 INDIANA PACERS
Season series • Cavaliers, 3-1.
Storyline • LeBron James starts his bid for a seventh consecutive trip to the NBA Finals and will meet the Pacers in the playoffs for the fourth time in that span. The defending champions went 23-23 in their last 46 games, tied for the 15th-best record during that stretch.
Key matchup • James vs. Paul George. They may not guard each other much, but it's no secret that Indiana's most logical path to an upset is for George to get hot and stay hot. He'll likely have to match James' production for the Pacers to have a real chance.
Prediction • Cavaliers in 5.
SERIES Schedule
Sunday: at Washington, 11 a.m.
Wednesday: at Washington, 5 p.m.
April 22: at Atlanta, 3:30 p.m.
April 24: at Atlanta, 6 p.m.
x-April 26: at Washington, TBD
x-April 28: at Atlanta, TBD
x-April 30: at Washington, TBD
x-if necessary
No. 3 TORONTO RAPTORS vs. No. 6 MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Season series • Raptors, 3-1.
Storyline • Toronto reached the East finals last season, have Kyle Lowry back from a second-half wrist injury and a likely All-NBA performer in DeMar DeRozan. They know what the playoff lights are like. Milwaukee All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to get his first taste of the postseason, and he'll have to adjust quickly.
Key matchup • Who guards Antetokounmpo? Probably a handful of Raptors will be involved. If the Greek Freak gets on a roll, Toronto could have issues. Contain him, and the Raptors shouldn't have much problem getting to the second round.
Prediction • Raptors in 6.
SERIES Schedule
Saturday: at Toronto, 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday: at Toronto, 5 p.m.
Thursday: at Milwaukee, 6 p.m.
April 22: at Milwaukee, 1 p.m.
x-April 24: at Toronto, 5 p.m.
x-April 27: at Milwaukee, TBD
x-April 29: at Toronto, TBD
x-if necessary
No. 4 WASHINGTON WIZARDS vs. No. 5 ATLANTA HAWKS
Season series • Wizards, 3-1.
Storyline • Washington was a great comeback story this season, shaking off a 2-8 start like it never happened and putting together the best regular season for the franchise in nearly 40 years. Atlanta is looking for a third consecutive trip to the second round, and finished the season on an uptick after a seven-game slide in March.
Key matchup • How the Wizards guard Dwight Howard. Washington knows it won't have Ian Mahinmi to start the series because of a strained calf, and his 6-foot-11 frame will be sorely missed.
Prediction • Wizards in 7.
SERIES Schedule
Saturday: at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Monday: at Cleveland, 5 p.m.
Thursday: at Indiana, 5 p.m.
April 23: at Indiana, 11 a.m.
x-April 25: at Cleveland, TBD
x-April 27, at Indiana, TBD
x-April 29: at Cleveland, TBD
x-if necessary
No. 1 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS vs. No. 8 PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
Season series • Warriors, 4-0.
Storyline • With Kevin Durant back and healthy, Golden State's quest to get to a third straight NBA Finals begins against an opponent it dominated this season. Golden State averaged 125 points and had its biggest win ever over Portland with a 135-90 rout on Dec. 17. But all the games were before the All-Star break, and the Trail Blazers played their best basketball after that.
Key Matchup • Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson vs. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Perhaps the best backcourts in the West go head-to-head. All four guards are capable of putting up huge numbers, but Portland's probably can't afford any bad nights given how much more help the Warriors' duo has.
Prediction • Warriors in 5.
SERIES Schedule
Sunday: at Golden State, 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday: at Golden State, 8:30 p.m.
April 22: at Portland, 8:30 p.m.
April 24: at Portland, 8:30 p.m.
x-April 26: at Golden State, TBD
x-April 28: at Portland, TBD
x-April 30: at Golden State, TBD
x-if necessary
No. 2 SAN ANTONIO SPURS vs. No. 7 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
Season series • Split, 2-2.
Storyline • This is the fifth time these teams have met in the playoffs in the past 13 years, so the familiarity is there. The Spurs kept rolling along after Tim Duncan's retirement, getting an MVP-caliber season from Kawhi Leonard and another masterful coaching job from Gregg Popovich to win 61 games. But the Grizzlies are no easy out. They held the Spurs to 90.5 points and 43 percent shooting in their four meetings this season. It will be a dog fight.
Key Matchup • Tony Parker vs. Mike Conley. Even though he's past his prime, Parker remains integral to the Spurs' chances for a deep playoff run. If Conley can dominate the matchup, Spurs could have their hands full.
Prediction • Spurs in 5.
SERIES Schedule
Saturday: at San Antonio, 6 p.m.
Monday: at San Antonio, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday: at Memphis, 7:30 p.m.
April 22: at Memphis, 6 p.m.
x-April 25: at San Antonio, TBD
x-April 27: at Memphis, TBD
x-April 29: at San Antonio, TBD
x-if necessary
No. 3 HOUSTON ROCKETS vs. No. 6 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
Season series • Rockets, 3-1.
Storyline • Only the most intriguing matchup of the first round. Houston's James Harden and OKC's Russell Westbrook are the two leading candidates in an air-tight MVP race. Each have put together historic offensive seasons to carry their teams to unexpected finishes, Harden helping the Rockets rebound from a disappointing season last year and Westbrook single-handedly allowing the Thunder to move past Kevin Durant's departure.
Key Matchup • Harden vs. Westbrook. Westbrook owns a decided statistical advantage in the series this season, averaging 36.3 points, 9.3 assists and 9.0 rebounds. Harden averaged 20.5 points, 12.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds.
Prediction • Rockets in 7.
SERIES Schedule
Sunday: at Houston, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: at Houston, 6 p.m.
Friday: at Oklahoma City, 7:30 p.m.
April 23: at Oklahoma City, :30 p.m.
x-April 25: at Houston, TBD
x-April 27: at Oklahoma City, TBD
x-April 29: at Houston, TBD
x-if necessary
— All previews by The Associated Press