After two thrilling Game 7s to finish the first round of the NBA playoffs, we finally have our Western Conference semifinals set: LA Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets.
Are the L.A. rivals on a collision course for the West finals, or are they in for a surprise in the NBA bubble?
Here is who our NBA experts are picking for Clippers-Nuggets and Lakers-Rockets in the West and Bucks-Heat and Raptors-Celtics in the East.
Note: Experts’ picks for Bucks-Heat and Raptors-Celtics were posted before each Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Western Conference semifinals
Jerry Bembry: Clippers in 6
Nick DePaula: Clippers in 6
Nick Friedell: Clippers in 5
Kirk Goldsberry: Clippers in 4
Andrew Han: Clippers in 6
Chris Herring: Clippers in 6
Andrew Lopez: Clippers in 6
Zach Lowe: Clippers in 5
Tim MacMahon: Clippers in 5
Bobby Marks: Clippers in 5
Dave McMenamin: Clippers in 5
Kevin Pelton: Clippers in 5
Jorge Sedano: Clippers in 5
Ramona Shelburne: Clippers in 6
Andre’ Snellings: Clippers in 6
Jesse Washington: Clippers in 5
Eric Woodyard: Clippers in 5
Royce Young: Clippers in 6
Ohm Youngmisuk: Clippers in 6
Final tally: Clippers (19).
Nick DePaula: Lakers in 6
Nick Friedell: Lakers in 7
Andrew Han: Lakers in 6
Andrew Lopez: Lakers in 6
Tim MacMahon: Lakers in 7
Bobby Marks: Lakers in 5
Dave McMenamin: Lakers in 7
Kevin Pelton: Lakers in 6
Jorge Sedano: Lakers in 6
Ramona Shelburne: Lakers in 6
Andre’ Snellings: Lakers in 7
Marc Spears: Lakers in 5
Jesse Washington: Lakers in 5
Eric Woodyard: Lakers in 6
Royce Young: Lakers in 6
Ohm Youngmisuk: Lakers in 6
Final tally: Lakers (16).
Eastern Conference semifinals
Jerry Bembry: Bucks in 7
Nick DePaula: Heat in 6
Nick Friedell: Heat in 6
Kirk Goldsberry: Bucks in 7
Andrew Han: Heat in 7
Chris Herring: Bucks in 6
Andrew Lopez: Bucks in 6
Zach Lowe: Bucks in 7
Tim MacMahon: Bucks in 6
Bobby Marks: Heat in 7
Dave McMenamin: Heat in 7
Kevin Pelton: Bucks in 6
Jorge Sedano: Heat in 7
Ramona Shelburne: Heat in 7
Andre’ Snellings: Bucks in 5
Eric Woodyard: Bucks in 7
Royce Young: Bucks in 6
Ohm Youngmisuk: Bucks in 7
Final tally: Bucks (11), Heat (7).
Jerry Bembry: Celtics in 7
Nick DePaula: Celtics in 7
Nick Friedell: Raptors in 6
Andrew Han: Raptors in 6
Chris Herring: Celtics in 7
Andrew Lopez: Raptors in 7
Zach Lowe: Celtics in 7
Tim MacMahon: Raptors in 6
Bobby Marks: Raptors in 5
Dave McMenamin: Raptors in 7
Kevin Pelton: Raptors in 7
Jorge Sedano: Raptors in 7
Ramona Shelburne: Raptors in 6
Andre’ Snellings: Raptors in 7
Marc Spears: Raptors in 7
Eric Woodyard: Celtics in 6
Royce Young: Raptors in 6
Ohm Youngmisuk: Raptors in 7
Final tally: Raptors (13), Celtics (5).