FIRST-ROUND PLAYOFF SERIES CAPSULES
Capsules for the first-round NBA playoff series in the Eastern and Western conferences: EASTERN CONFERENCE No. 1 TORONTO RAPTORS (5923) vs. No. 8 WASHINGTON WIZARDS (43-39) Season series: Split, 2-2 Story line: It was the best regular season in Toronto history and its first time going into the playoffs as a No. 1 seed, but the Raptors know it’s the playoff result that will determine if 2017-18 was a success. The Raptors got out of the first round once in their first 20 seasons; they’re now trying to do so for a third straight season. Washington was inconsistent all season, but now has All-Star John Wall back from injury, and he’ll be needed.
Key Matchup: Toronto’s Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan vs. the Wizards’ Wall and Bradley Beal. The teams mirror each other in that their backcourt stars lead the way. Lowry and DeRozan have risen to challenges all season, and their playoff run starts with a very stiff matchup. Prediction: Raptors in 5. No. 2 BOSTON CELTICS (5527) vs. No. 7 MILWAUKEE BUCKS (44-38) Season series: Split, 2-2 Story line: The Celtics won’t have Kyrie Irving, probably won’t have Marcus Smart for much of the first round, and haven’t had Gordon Hayward since the sixth minute of the season. But they earned the No. 2 seed anyway, and hear the whispers of naysayers suggesting they’re vulnerable. The Bucks will try to win their first playoff series since 2001 — when star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was 6.
Key Matchup: Celtics coach Brad Stevens vs. Bucks coach Joe Prunty. The chess match will be fun; Stevens is easily one of the NBA’s best at scheming, especially on the fly, and Prunty has done a strong job since taking over for Jason Kidd around the midseason mark. Prediction: Celtics in 6. No. 3 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
(52-30) vs. No. 6 MIAMI HEAT (44-38) Season series: Split, 2-2 Story line: The 76ers finished on a 16-game winning streak, although 13 of those wins came against non-playoff teams. In their last 24 games, Philadelphia was 20-2 against everyone other than Miami — and 0-2 against the Heat, including one game where Dwyane Wade hit a gamewinning shot. The 76ers are young, brash and backing it up, while the Heat have the confidence of knowing that they can knock off Philly.
Key Matchup: Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid vs. Miami’s Hassan Whiteside. Embiid says he doesn’t think he’ll play in Game 1 while continuing to recover from an orbital fracture. But the lure of facing Whiteside — they simply don’t like each other — should get him back out there as soon as possible. Miami’s best chance is for Whiteside to be great. Prediction: Heat in 7. No. 4 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (50-32) vs. No. 5 INDIANA PACERS (48-34) Season series: Pacers, 3-1 Story line: LeBron James is bidding for his eighth consecutive trip to the NBA Finals, and the Cavs are trying to get there for a fourth straight year. They will be tested from the outset by an Indiana team that many thought would be rebuilding this season. And the Pacers indeed did rebuild, but managed to do so on the fly behind Victor Oladipo, probably the NBA’s Most Improved Player.