NBA playoffs 2023: Experts' picks for the play-in and every first-round series

The 2023 NBA playoffs are here!

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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.

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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.

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

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Here are their final selections.

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MORE: Everything to know  | Schedules | Offseason guides

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First round: Eastern Conference

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Miami Heat (8) vs Milwaukee Bucks (1)

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Kendra Andrews: Bucks in 5

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Jerry Bembry: Bucks in 5

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Jamal Collier: Bucks in 5

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Nick DePaula: Bucks in 6

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Nick Friedell: Bucks in 4

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Kirk Goldsberry: Bucks in 6

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Israel Gutierrez: Bucks in 6

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Tim Legler: Bucks in 5

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Zach Lowe: Bucks in 5

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Tim MacMahon: Bucks in 5

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Bobby Marks: Bucks in 5

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Dave McMenamin: Bucks in 5

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Kevin Pelton: Bucks in 5

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Jorge Sedano: Bucks in 6

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Ramona Shelburne: Bucks in 5

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André Snellings: Bucks in 5

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Marc Spears: Bucks in 5

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Ohm Youngmisuk: Bucks in 6

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Final tally: Bucks 18, Heat 0

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Atlanta Hawks (7) vs Boston Celtics (2)

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Kendra Andrews: Celtics in 4

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Jerry Bembry: Celtics in 6

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Jamal Collier: Celtics in 5

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Nick DePaula: Celtics in 5

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Nick Friedell: Celtics in 4

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Kirk Goldsberry: Celtics in 5

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Israel Gutierrez: Celtics in 6

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Zach Lowe: Celtics in 5

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Tim MacMahon: Celtics in 5

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Bobby Marks: Celtics in 5

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Dave McMenamin: Celtics in 5

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Kevin Pelton: Celtics in 5

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Jorge Sedano: Celtics in 5

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Ramona Shelburne: Celtics in 5

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André Snellings: Celtics in 5

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Marc Spears: Celtics in 5

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Ohm Youngmisuk: Celtics in 6

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Final tally: Celtics 17, Hawks 0

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

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Kendra Andrews: 76ers in 5

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Jerry Bembry: 76ers in 5

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Jamal Collier: 76ers in 5

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Nick DePaula: 76ers in 5

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Nick Friedell: 76ers in 5

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Kirk Goldsberry: 76ers in 5

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Israel Gutierrez: 76ers in 5

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Tim Legler: 76ers in 6
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[br /]Zach Lowe: 76ers in 5

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Tim MacMahon: 76ers in 5

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Bobby Marks: 76ers in 5

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Dave McMenamin: 76ers in 5

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Kevin Pelton: 76ers in 5

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Jorge Sedano: 76ers in 5

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Ramona Shelburne: 76ers in 5

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André Snellings: 76ers in 5

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Marc Spears: 76ers in 5

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Ohm Youngmisuk: 76ers in 5

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Final tally: 76ers 18, Nets 0

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

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Kendra Andrews: Cavaliers in 6

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Jerry Bembry: Knicks in 7

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Jamal Collier: Cavaliers in 7

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Nick DePaula: Cavaliers in 7

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Nick Friedell: Knicks in 7

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Kirk Goldsberry: Cavaliers in 7

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Israel Gutierrez: Cavaliers in 6

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Tim Legler: Cavaliers in 7

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Zach Lowe: Cavaliers in 7

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Tim MacMahon: Cavaliers in 7

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Bobby Marks: Cavaliers in 6

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Dave McMenamin: Cavaliers in 7

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Kevin Pelton: Cavaliers in 6

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Jorge Sedano: Knicks in 7

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Ramona Shelburne: Knicks in 6

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André Snellings: Cavaliers in 7

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Marc Spears: Cavaliers in 7

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Ohm Youngmisuk: Cavaliers in 7

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Final tally: Cavaliers 14, Knicks 4

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First round: Western Conference

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Minnesota Timberwolves (8) vs Denver Nuggets (1)

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Kendra Andrews: Nuggets in 6

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Jerry Bembry: Nuggets in 6

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Jamal Collier: Nuggets in 4

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Nick DePaula: Nuggets in 6

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Nick Friedell: Nuggets in 5

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Kirk Goldsberry: Nuggets in 6

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Israel Gutierrez: Nuggets in 5

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Tim Legler: Nuggets in 6

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Zach Lowe: Nuggets in 6

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Tim MacMahon: Nuggets in 6

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Bobby Marks: Nuggets in 5

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Dave McMenamin: Nuggets in 5

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Kevin Pelton: Nuggets in 5

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Jorge Sedano: Nuggets in 5

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Ramona Shelburne: Nuggets in 7

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André Snellings: Timberwolves in 7

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Marc Spears: Nuggets in 6

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Ohm Youngmisuk: Nuggets in 6

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Final tally: Nuggets 17, Timberwolves 1

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

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Kendra Andrews: Lakers in 6

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Jerry Bembry: Grizzlies in 7

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Jamal Collier: Lakers in 6

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Nick DePaula: Lakers in 6

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Nick Friedell: Grizzlies in 6

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Kirk Goldsberry: Lakers in 7

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Israel Gutierrez: Grizzlies in 5

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Zach Lowe: Grizzlies in 7

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Tim MacMahon: Grizzlies in 7

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Bobby Marks: Grizzlies in 6

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Dave McMenamin: Lakers in 7

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Kevin Pelton: Grizzlies in 7

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Jorge Sedano: Lakers in 7

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Ramona Shelburne: Grizzlies in 7

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André Snellings: Lakers in 6

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Marc Spears: Lakers in 7

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Ohm Youngmisuk: Lakers in 7

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Final tally: Lakers 9, Grizzlies 8

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

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Kendra Andrews: Warriors in 6

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Jerry Bembry: Kings in 7

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Jamal Collier: Warriors in 6

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Nick DePaula: Warriors in 6

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Nick Friedell: Warriors in 7

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Kirk Goldsberry: Warriors in 7

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Israel Gutierrez: Warriors in 6

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Tim Legler: Warriors in 6

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Zach Lowe: Warriors in 6

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Tim MacMahon: Warriors in 6

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Bobby Marks: Kings in 6

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Dave McMenamin: Warriors in 6

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Kevin Pelton: Warriors in 6

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Jorge Sedano: Warriors in 6

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Ramona Shelburne: Warriors in 6

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André Snellings: Warriors in 6

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Marc Spears: Warriors in 7

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Ohm Youngmisuk: Warriors in 7

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Final tally: Warriors 16, Kings 2

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

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Kendra Andrews: Suns in 7

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Jerry Bembry: Suns in 6

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Jamal Collier: Suns in 6

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Nick DePaula: Suns in 6

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Nick Friedell: Suns in 6

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Kirk Goldsberry: Suns in 6

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Israel Gutierrez: Suns in 6

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Tim Legler: Suns in 6

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Zach Lowe: Suns in 6

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Tim MacMahon: Suns in 6

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Bobby Marks: Suns in 6

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Dave McMenamin: Suns in 7

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Kevin Pelton: Suns in 6

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Ramona Shelburne: Suns in 6

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André Snellings: Suns in 7

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Marc Spears: Suns in 7

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Ohm Youngmisuk: Suns in 7

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Final tally: Suns 17, Clippers 0

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Eastern Conference Play-In

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

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Kendra Andrews: Bulls

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Jerry Bembry: Heat

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Jamal Collier: Heat

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Nick DePaula: Heat

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Nick Friedell: Heat

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Kirk Goldsberry: Bulls

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Israel Gutierrez: Bulls

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Tim MacMahon: Heat

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Bobby Marks: Heat

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Dave McMenamin: Heat

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Kevin Pelton: Heat

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Jorge Sedano: Heat

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Ramona Shelburne: Bulls

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André Snellings: Heat

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Marc Spears: Bulls

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Ohm Youngmisuk: Heat

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Final tally: Heat 11, Bulls 5

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Eastern Conference Play-In

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Atlanta Hawks (8) vs. Miami Heat (7)

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Kendra Andrews: Heat

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Jerry Bembry: Heat

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Jamal Collier: Heat

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Nick DePaula: Heat

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Nick Friedell: Heat

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Kirk Goldsberry: Heat

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Israel Gutierrez: Heat

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Tim Legler: Heat

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Tim MacMahon: Heat

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Bobby Marks: Heat

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Dave McMenamin: Heat

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Kevin Pelton: Heat

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Jorge Sedano: Heat

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Ramona Shelburne: Heat

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André Snellings: Heat

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Marc Spears: Heat

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Ohm Youngmisuk: Heat

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Final tally: Heat 17, Hawks 0

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Eastern Conference Play-In 

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

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Kendra Andrews: Raptors

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Jerry Bembry: Raptors

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Jamal Collier: Bulls

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Nick DePaula: Bulls

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Nick Friedell: Raptors

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Kirk Goldsberry: Raptors

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Israel Gutierrez: Bulls

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Tim Legler: Bulls

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Tim MacMahon: Raptors

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Bobby Marks: Raptors

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Dave McMenamin: Raptors

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Kevin Pelton: Raptors

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Jorge Sedano: Raptors

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Ramona Shelburne: Raptors

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André Snellings: Raptors

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Marc Spears: Bulls

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Ohm Youngmisuk: Bulls

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Final tally: Raptors 11, Bulls 6

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Western Conference Play-In

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Kendra Andrews: Thunder

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Jerry Bembry: Thunder

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Jamal Collier: Timberwolves

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Nick DePaula: Thunder

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Nick Friedell: Timberwolves

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Kirk Goldsberry: Timberwolves

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Israel Gutierrez: Thunder

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Tim MacMahon: Thunder

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Bobby Marks: Thunder

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Dave McMenamin: Timberwolves

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Kevin Pelton: Timberwolves

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Jorge Sedano: Thunder

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Ramona Shelburne: Timberwolves

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André Snellings: Timberwolves

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Marc Spears: Thunder

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Ohm Youngmisuk: Timberwolves

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Final tally: Thunder 8, Timberwolves 8

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Kendra Andrews: Lakers

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Jerry Bembry: Lakers

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Jamal Collier: Lakers

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Nick DePaula: Lakers

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Nick Friedell: Lakers

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Kirk Goldsberry: Lakers

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Israel Gutierrez: Lakers

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Tim Legler: Lakers

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Tim MacMahon: Lakers

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Bobby Marks: Lakers

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Dave McMenamin: Lakers

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Kevin Pelton: Lakers 

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Jorge Sedano: Lakers

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Ramona Shelburne: Lakers

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André Snellings: Lakers

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Marc Spears: Lakers

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Ohm Youngmisuk: Lakers

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Final tally: Lakers 17, Wolves 0

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Western Conference Play-In

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

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Kendra Andrews: Thunder

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Jerry Bembry: Thunder

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Jamal Collier: Pelicans

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Nick DePaula: Thunder

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Nick Friedell: Pelicans

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Kirk Goldsberry: Pelicans

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Israel Gutierrez: Pelicans

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Tim Legler: Pelicans

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Tim MacMahon: Thunder

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Bobby Marks: Thunder

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Dave McMenamin: Pelicans

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Kevin Pelton: Pelicans

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Ramona Shelburne: Pelicans

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André Snellings: Pelicans

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Marc Spears: Pelicans

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Ohm Youngmisuk: Pelicans

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Final tally: Pelicans 11, Thunder 5

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