The 2021 NBA post-season officially begins on Tuesday with the tournament, followed by the first round of qualifiers on Saturday.
After the exciting regular season end with the seeds finally set on the final day, the Charlotte Hornets and Indiana Pacers will start on Tuesday in the East, followed by the Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics in the late game.
On Wednesday, the San Antonio Spurs will face the Memphis Grizzlies in their first game in the West, followed by the Golden State Warriors against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Winners of the Wizards-Celtics Warriors-Lakers will win the No. 7 seed at their respective conventions, while the losers will face the winners of the Hornets Pacers and Tottenham Grizzlies on Thursday and Friday to compete for eighth place. Seeds, do you understand all of that? we will.
Will the defending champions return home early? How many passes will be made in the first round? What about historical surprises? Our experts set their expectations for every game played and every game in Round One.
More: What do you know about the 2021 Qualifiers | Full match schedule
Playing in the Eastern Conference: Game 1
Boston Celtics 7: Washington Wizards (8)
Jerry Pembrey: Celtics
Nick Dipola: Celtics
Nick Friedel: Celtics
Kirk Goldsbury: Processors
Tim Legler: Processors
Tim McMahon: Processors
Bobby Marks: Processors
Dave McMenamin: Processors
Monica McNaugh: Processors
Kevin Bilton: Processors
Jorge Sedano: Celtics
Ramona Shelburne: Processors
Andre Snellings: Processors
Mark J. Spears: Processors
Royce Young: Processors
Om Yongmisuk: Processors
Final count: Wizards (12), Celtics (4)
Indiana Pacers (9): Charlotte Hornets (10)
Jerry Pembrey: Pacers
Nick Dipola: Hornets
Nick Friedel: Pacers
Kirk Goldsbury: Hornets
Tim Legler: Hornets
Tim McMahon: Hornets
Bobby Marks: Pacers
Dave McMenamin: Hornets
Monica McNaugh: Pacers
Kevin Bilton: Pacers
Jorge Sedano: Pacers
Ramona Shelburne: Pacers
Andre Snellings: Pacers
Mark J. Spears: Pacers
Royce Young: Pacers
Om Yongmisuk: Hornets
Final count: Pacers (10), Hornets (6)
Playing in the Western Conference: Game 1
Los Angeles Lakers (7): Golden State Warriors (8)
Jerry Pembrey: Lakers
Nick Dipola: the Warriors
Nick Friedel: Lakers
Kirk Goldsbury: Lakers
Tim Legler: Lakers
Tim McMahon: Lakers
Bobby Marks: Lakers
Dave McMenamin: Lakers
Monica McNaugh: Lakers
Kevin Bilton: Lakers
Jorge Sedano: Lakers
Ramona Shelburne: Lakers
Andre Snellings: Lakers
Mark J. Spears: Lakers
Royce Young: Lakers
Om Yongmisuk: Lakers
Final count: Lakers (15), Warriors (1)
Memphis Grizzlies (9): San Antonio Spurs (10)
Jerry Pembrey: grizzly
Nick Dipola: grizzly
Nick Friedel: grizzly
Kirk Goldsbury: Tottenham
Tim Legler: Tottenham
Tim McMahon: grizzly
Bobby Marks: grizzly
Dave McMenamin: grizzly
Monica McNaugh: grizzly
Kevin Bilton: grizzly
Jorge Sedano: grizzly
Ramona Shelburne: grizzly
Andre Snellings: grizzly
Mark J. Spears: Tottenham
Royce Young: grizzly
Om Yongmisuk: grizzly
Final count: Grizzlies (13), Tottenham (3)
Eastern Conference: the first round
Jerry Pembrey: Heat and 6
Nick Dipola: Heat and 6
Nick Friedel: Bucks On 6
Kirk Goldsbury: Bucks On 7
Tim Legler: Heat and 7
Tim McMahon: Bucks On 7
Bobby Marks: Bucks On 6
Dave McMenamin: Bucks On 7
Monica McNaugh: Bucks On 7
Kevin Bilton: Bucks On 7
Jorge Sedano: Heat and 7
Ramona Shelburne: Bucks On 7
Andre Snellings: Bucks On 6
Mark J. Spears: Bucks On 7
Royce Young: Bucks On 6
Om Yongmisuk: Bucks On 7
Final count: Bucks (12), Heat (4)
Jerry Pembrey: Knicks and 6
Nick Dipola: Knicks and 6
Nick Friedel: Knicks and 6
Kirk Goldsbury: Knicks and 6
Tim Legler: Knicks and 6
Tim McMahon: Knicks and 6
Bobby Marks: Knicks and 7
Dave McMenamin: Knicks and 6
Monica McNaugh: Knicks and 6
Kevin Bilton: Knicks and 7
Jorge Sedano: Knicks and 7
Ramona Shelburne: Knicks and 5
Andre Snellings: Hawks and 6
Mark J. Spears: Knicks and 6
Royce Young: Hawks and 7
Om Yongmisuk: Knicks and 7
Final count: Nyx (14), Hawks (2)
Western Conference: the first round
Jerry Pembrey: Nuggets on 7
Nick Dipola: Blazer V7
Nick Friedel: Nuggets on 7
Kirk Goldsbury: Nuggets on 7
Tim Legler: Blazer V7
Tim McMahon: Nuggets on 6
Bobby Marks: Nuggets on 7
Dave McMenamin: Nuggets on 6
Monica McNaugh: Blazer V7
Kevin Bilton: Blazer in 6
Jorge Sedano: Blazer V7
Ramona Shelburne: Nuggets on 7
Andre Snellings: Blazer V7
Mark J. Spears: Blazer V7
Royce Young: Blazer V7
Om Yongmisuk: Nuggets on 7
Final count: Blazers (8), Nuggets (8)
Jerry Pembrey: Clippers and 6
Nick Dipola: Clippers and 6
Nick Friedel: Clippers and 6
Kirk Goldsbury: Clippers and 7
Tim Legler: Clippers and 6
Tim McMahon: Clippers and 7
Bobby Marks: Clippers and 6
Dave McMenamin: Clippers and 5
Monica McNaugh: Clippers and 6
Kevin Bilton: Clippers and 6
Jorge Sedano: Clippers and 6
Ramona Shelburne: Clippers and 5
Andre Snellings: Clippers and 5
Mark J. Spears: Clippers and 6
Royce Young: Mavericks at 7
Om Yongmisuk: Clippers and 6
Final count: Clippers (15), Mavericks (1)
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