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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.

MORE: Schedule, news and results | Nuggets-Suns keys

EAST SEMIFINALS

Boston Celtics (2) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (3)

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

New York Knicks (5) vs. Miami Heat (8)

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

Denver Nuggets (1) vs. Phoenix Suns (4)

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

Nba playoffs 2023 experts picks every second round series

2023-04-29 21:00:34