Apr 15, 2023

The 2023 NBA playoffs are here!

Sixteen teams still have a chance -- some, uh, smaller than others -- to take home the Larry O'Brien Trophy in June. After losing to the Los Angeles Lakers, the No. 8 seed Minnesota Timberwolves overcame Rudy Gobert's suspension and Jaden McDaniels' wall punch to defeat the the No. 10-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, and will face the Denver Nuggets in the first round.

Over in the East, we have a Miami Heat team that spent all season trying to overcome injuries and inconsistency defeating the Chicago Bulls to advance to face the Milwaukee Bucks, who had the league's best record in the regular season.

Our experts have analyzed all the data; they've talked to insiders across the league.

Here are their final selections.

MORE: Everything to know | Schedules | Offseason guides

First round: Eastern Conference

Miami Heat (8) vs Milwaukee Bucks (1)

Kendra Andrews: Bucks in 5

Jerry Bembry: Bucks in 5

Jamal Collier: Bucks in 5

Nick DePaula: Bucks in 6

Nick Friedell: Bucks in 4

Kirk Goldsberry: Bucks in 6

Israel Gutierrez: Bucks in 6

Tim Legler: Bucks in 5

Zach Lowe: Bucks in 5

Tim MacMahon: Bucks in 5

Bobby Marks: Bucks in 5

Dave McMenamin: Bucks in 5

Kevin Pelton: Bucks in 5

Jorge Sedano: Bucks in 6

Ramona Shelburne: Bucks in 5

André Snellings: Bucks in 5

Marc Spears: Bucks in 5

Ohm Youngmisuk: Bucks in 6

Final tally: Bucks 18, Heat 0

Atlanta Hawks (7) vs Boston Celtics (2)

Kendra Andrews: Celtics in 4

Jerry Bembry: Celtics in 6

Jamal Collier: Celtics in 5

Nick DePaula: Celtics in 5

Nick Friedell: Celtics in 4

Kirk Goldsberry: Celtics in 5

Israel Gutierrez: Celtics in 6

Zach Lowe: Celtics in 5

Tim MacMahon: Celtics in 5

Bobby Marks: Celtics in 5

Dave McMenamin: Celtics in 5

Kevin Pelton: Celtics in 5

Jorge Sedano: Celtics in 5

Ramona Shelburne: Celtics in 5

André Snellings: Celtics in 5

Marc Spears: Celtics in 5

Ohm Youngmisuk: Celtics in 6

Final tally: Celtics 17, Hawks 0

Brooklyn Nets (6) vs Philadelphia 76ers (3)

Kendra Andrews: 76ers in 5

Jerry Bembry: 76ers in 5

Jamal Collier: 76ers in 5

Nick DePaula: 76ers in 5

Nick Friedell: 76ers in 5

Kirk Goldsberry: 76ers in 5

Israel Gutierrez: 76ers in 5

Tim Legler: 76ers in 6

Zach Lowe: 76ers in 5

Tim MacMahon: 76ers in 5

Bobby Marks: 76ers in 5

Dave McMenamin: 76ers in 5

Kevin Pelton: 76ers in 5

Jorge Sedano: 76ers in 5

Ramona Shelburne: 76ers in 5

André Snellings: 76ers in 5

Marc Spears: 76ers in 5

Ohm Youngmisuk: 76ers in 5

Final tally: 76ers 18, Nets 0

New York Knicks (5) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (4)

Kendra Andrews: Cavaliers in 6

Jerry Bembry: Knicks in 7

Jamal Collier: Cavaliers in 7

Nick DePaula: Cavaliers in 7

Nick Friedell: Knicks in 7

Kirk Goldsberry: Cavaliers in 7

Israel Gutierrez: Cavaliers in 6

Tim Legler: Cavaliers in 7

Zach Lowe: Cavaliers in 7

Tim MacMahon: Cavaliers in 7

Bobby Marks: Cavaliers in 6

Dave McMenamin: Cavaliers in 7

Kevin Pelton: Cavaliers in 6

Jorge Sedano: Knicks in 7

Ramona Shelburne: Knicks in 6

André Snellings: Cavaliers in 7

Marc Spears: Cavaliers in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk: Cavaliers in 7

Final tally: Cavaliers 14, Knicks 4

First round: Western Conference

Minnesota Timberwolves (8) vs Denver Nuggets (1)

Kendra Andrews: Nuggets in 6

Jerry Bembry: Nuggets in 6

Jamal Collier: Nuggets in 4

Nick DePaula: Nuggets in 6

Nick Friedell: Nuggets in 5

Kirk Goldsberry: Nuggets in 6

Israel Gutierrez: Nuggets in 5

Tim Legler: Nuggets in 6

Zach Lowe: Nuggets in 6

Tim MacMahon: Nuggets in 6

Bobby Marks: Nuggets in 5

Dave McMenamin: Nuggets in 5

Kevin Pelton: Nuggets in 5

Jorge Sedano: Nuggets in 5

Ramona Shelburne: Nuggets in 7

André Snellings: Timberwolves in 7

Marc Spears: Nuggets in 6

Ohm Youngmisuk: Nuggets in 6

Final tally: Nuggets 17, Timberwolves 1

Los Angeles Lakers (7) vs Memphis Grizzlies (2)

Kendra Andrews: Lakers in 6

Jerry Bembry: Grizzlies in 7

Jamal Collier: Lakers in 6

Nick DePaula: Lakers in 6

Nick Friedell: Grizzlies in 6

Kirk Goldsberry: Lakers in 7

Israel Gutierrez: Grizzlies in 5

Zach Lowe: Grizzlies in 7

Tim MacMahon: Grizzlies in 7

Bobby Marks: Grizzlies in 6

Dave McMenamin: Lakers in 7

Kevin Pelton: Grizzlies in 7

Jorge Sedano: Lakers in 7

Ramona Shelburne: Grizzlies in 7

André Snellings: Lakers in 6

Marc Spears: Lakers in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk: Lakers in 7

Final tally: Lakers 9, Grizzlies 8

Golden State Warriors (6) vs Sacramento Kings (3)

Kendra Andrews: Warriors in 6

Jerry Bembry: Kings in 7

Jamal Collier: Warriors in 6

Nick DePaula: Warriors in 6

Nick Friedell: Warriors in 7

Kirk Goldsberry: Warriors in 7

Israel Gutierrez: Warriors in 6

Tim Legler: Warriors in 6

Zach Lowe: Warriors in 6

Tim MacMahon: Warriors in 6

Bobby Marks: Kings in 6

Dave McMenamin: Warriors in 6

Kevin Pelton: Warriors in 6

Jorge Sedano: Warriors in 6

Ramona Shelburne: Warriors in 6

André Snellings: Warriors in 6

Marc Spears: Warriors in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk: Warriors in 7

Final tally: Warriors 16, Kings 2

Los Angeles Clippers (5) vs Phoenix Suns (4)

Kendra Andrews: Suns in 7

Jerry Bembry: Suns in 6

Jamal Collier: Suns in 6

Nick DePaula: Suns in 6

Nick Friedell: Suns in 6

Kirk Goldsberry: Suns in 6

Israel Gutierrez: Suns in 6

Tim Legler: Suns in 6

Zach Lowe: Suns in 6

Tim MacMahon: Suns in 6

Bobby Marks: Suns in 6

Dave McMenamin: Suns in 7

Kevin Pelton: Suns in 6

Ramona Shelburne: Suns in 6

André Snellings: Suns in 7

Marc Spears: Suns in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk: Suns in 7

Final tally: Suns 17, Clippers 0

Eastern Conference Play-In

Chicago Bulls (10) vs. Miami Heat (7)

Kendra Andrews: Bulls

Jerry Bembry: Heat

Jamal Collier: Heat

Nick DePaula: Heat

Nick Friedell: Heat

Kirk Goldsberry: Bulls

Israel Gutierrez: Bulls

The NBA on ESPN and the ESPN App

Saturday
Bucks at Heat, 7:30 p.m.
Grizzlies at Lakers, 10 p.m.

Sunday
Cavaliers at Knicks, 1 p.m. (ABC)
Kings at Warriors, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

*All times Eastern

More: Playoff schedule, news, more

Tim MacMahon: Heat

Bobby Marks: Heat

Dave McMenamin: Heat

Kevin Pelton: Heat

Jorge Sedano: Heat

Ramona Shelburne: Bulls

André Snellings: Heat

Marc Spears: Bulls

Ohm Youngmisuk: Heat

Final tally: Heat 11, Bulls 5

Eastern Conference Play-In

Atlanta Hawks (8) vs. Miami Heat (7)

Kendra Andrews: Heat

Jerry Bembry: Heat

Jamal Collier: Heat

Nick DePaula: Heat

Nick Friedell: Heat

Kirk Goldsberry: Heat

Israel Gutierrez: Heat

Tim Legler: Heat

The NBA on ESPN and the ESPN App

Saturday
Bucks at Heat, 7:30 p.m.
Grizzlies at Lakers, 10 p.m.

Sunday
Cavaliers at Knicks, 1 p.m. (ABC)
Kings at Warriors, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

*All times Eastern

More: Playoff schedule, news, more

Tim MacMahon: Heat

Bobby Marks: Heat

Dave McMenamin: Heat

Kevin Pelton: Heat

Jorge Sedano: Heat

Ramona Shelburne: Heat

André Snellings: Heat

Marc Spears: Heat

Ohm Youngmisuk: Heat

Final tally: Heat 17, Hawks 0

Eastern Conference Play-In

Chicago Bulls (10) vs. Toronto Raptors (9)

Kendra Andrews: Raptors

Jerry Bembry: Raptors

Jamal Collier: Bulls

Nick DePaula: Bulls

Nick Friedell: Raptors

Kirk Goldsberry: Raptors

Israel Gutierrez: Bulls

Tim Legler: Bulls

Tim MacMahon: Raptors

Bobby Marks: Raptors

Dave McMenamin: Raptors

Kevin Pelton: Raptors

Jorge Sedano: Raptors

Ramona Shelburne: Raptors

André Snellings: Raptors

Marc Spears: Bulls

Ohm Youngmisuk: Bulls

Final tally: Raptors 11, Bulls 6

Western Conference Play-In

Oklahoma City Thunder (10) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8)

Kendra Andrews: Thunder

Jerry Bembry: Thunder

Jamal Collier: Timberwolves

Nick DePaula: Thunder

Nick Friedell: Timberwolves

Kirk Goldsberry: Timberwolves

Editor's Picks

Israel Gutierrez: Thunder

Tim MacMahon: Thunder

Bobby Marks: Thunder

Dave McMenamin: Timberwolves

Kevin Pelton: Timberwolves

Jorge Sedano: Thunder

Ramona Shelburne: Timberwolves

André Snellings: Timberwolves

Marc Spears: Thunder

Ohm Youngmisuk: Timberwolves

Final tally: Thunder 8, Timberwolves 8

Minnesota Timberwolves (8) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7)

Kendra Andrews: Lakers

Jerry Bembry: Lakers

Jamal Collier: Lakers

Nick DePaula: Lakers

Nick Friedell: Lakers

Kirk Goldsberry: Lakers

Editor's Picks

Israel Gutierrez: Lakers

Tim Legler: Lakers

Tim MacMahon: Lakers

Bobby Marks: Lakers

Dave McMenamin: Lakers

Kevin Pelton: Lakers

Jorge Sedano: Lakers

Ramona Shelburne: Lakers

André Snellings: Lakers

Marc Spears: Lakers

Ohm Youngmisuk: Lakers

Final tally: Lakers 17, Wolves 0

Western Conference Play-In

Oklahoma City Thunder (10) vs New Orleans Pelicans (9)

Kendra Andrews: Thunder

Jerry Bembry: Thunder

Jamal Collier: Pelicans

Nick DePaula: Thunder

Nick Friedell: Pelicans

Kirk Goldsberry: Pelicans

Israel Gutierrez: Pelicans

Tim Legler: Pelicans

Tim MacMahon: Thunder

Bobby Marks: Thunder

Dave McMenamin: Pelicans

Kevin Pelton: Pelicans

Ramona Shelburne: Pelicans

André Snellings: Pelicans

Marc Spears: Pelicans

Ohm Youngmisuk: Pelicans

Final tally: Pelicans 11, Thunder 5

Nba playoffs 2023 experts picks play every first round series

2023-04-26 12:30:26