NBA playoffs predictions: Who will win Eastern and Western conference semifinals series?
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers. Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Golden State Warriors.
The NBA's Eastern conference semifinals are set; the Western Conference semifinals fell into place Sunday night when the Warriors beat the Houston Rockets in Game 7.
The No. 1 seeds (Cavaliers, Thunder) have been impressive; sixth-seeded Minnesota sent the Los Angeles Lakers packing with relative ease; Denver routed the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 7; Boston rolled through Orlando; Indiana beat down beat-up Milwaukee; New York out-executed the Pistons in fourth quarters; Golden State's experience proved too much for the Rockets.
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS PREVIEWS: NYK-BOS | IND-CLE | DEN-OKC
Who will win and advance to the conference finals? USA TODAY Sports experts make their predictions:
Lorenzo Reyes: Cavaliers in 6
Heather Tucker: Cavaliers in 6
James Williams: Cavaliers in 6
Jeff Zillgitt: Cavaliers in 5
Lorenzo Reyes: Celtics in 5
Heather Tucker: Celtics in 5
James Williams: Celtics in 6
Jeff Zillgitt: Celtics in 6
Lorenzo Reyes: Thunder is six
Heather Tucker: Thunder in six
James Williams: Thunder in five
Jeff Zillgitt: Thunder in five
Lorenzo Reyes: Timberwolves in six
Heather Tucker: Timberwolves in seven
James Williams: Timberwolves in six
Jeff Zillgitt: Timberwolves in seven
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoffs picks: Who will win East, West conference semifinals?
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