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NBA playoffs 2021: Experts' picks for Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers and the conference semifinals

After a thrilling play-in tournament and opening-round action that saw the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers get bounced by the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks sweep the reigning Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat, we've reached the conference semifinals.

Will the LA Clippers ride their Game 7 momentum into their series with the Utah Jazz? What will the Suns do for an encore against the Denver Nuggets? Can the Philadelphia 76ers hold off Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks if big man Joel Embiid is less than 100 percent? Who will win the heavyweight bout between the Brooklyn Nets and the Bucks?

Our panel of NBA experts picks every second-round series.

Western Conference semifinals

Utah Jazz (1) vs. LA Clippers (4)

Jerry Bembry: Clippers in 6

Nick DePaula: Clippers in 6

Nick Friedell: Jazz in 6

Tim Legler: Jazz in 7

Zach Lowe: Clippers in 6

Tim MacMahon: Jazz in 7

Bobby Marks: Jazz in 6

Dave McMenamin: Clippers in 6

Monica McNutt: Jazz in 7

Kevin Pelton: Jazz in 7

Jorge Sedano: Clippers in 7

Ramona Shelburne: Clippers in 7

André Snellings: Clippers in 6

Marc J. Spears: Clippers in 7

Royce Young: Jazz in 6

Ohm Youngmisuk: Clippers in 7


Final tally: Clippers (9), Jazz (7)

Phoenix Suns (2) vs. Denver Nuggets (3)

Jerry Bembry: Suns in 6

Nick DePaula: Suns in 6

Nick Friedell: Suns in 6

Tim Legler: Nuggets in 7

Zach Lowe: Nuggets in 7

Tim MacMahon: Suns in 7

Bobby Marks: Suns in 6

Dave McMenamin: Suns in 7

Monica McNutt: Suns in 7

Kevin Pelton: Suns in 7

Jorge Sedano: Suns in 7

Ramona Shelburne: Suns in 7

André Snellings: Suns in 7

Marc J. Spears: Suns in 7

Royce Young: Suns in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk: Nuggets in 7


Final tally: Suns (13), Nuggets (3)

Eastern Conference semifinals

Philadelphia 76ers (1) vs. Atlanta Hawks (5)

Note: Picks were made prior to Game 1 of the series.

Jerry Bembry: 76ers in 6

Nick DePaula: 76ers in 6

Nick Friedell: 76ers in 6

Tim Legler: 76ers in 7

Zach Lowe: 76ers in 7

Tim MacMahon: 76ers in 6

Bobby Marks: Hawks in 6

Dave McMenamin: 76ers in 6

Monica McNutt: 76ers in 6

Kevin Pelton: 76ers in 6

Jorge Sedano: 76ers in 6

Ramona Shelburne: 76ers in 7

André Snellings: Hawks in 6

Marc J. Spears: 76ers in 6

Royce Young: 76ers in 6

Ohm Youngmisuk: 76ers in 7


Final tally: 76ers (14), Hawks (2)

Brooklyn Nets (2) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (3)

Note: Picks were made prior to Game 1 of the series.

Jerry Bembry: Nets in 6

Nick DePaula: Nets in 6

Nick Friedell: Bucks in 6

Tim Legler: Nets in 6

Zach Lowe: Nets in 7

Tim MacMahon: Nets in 7

Bobby Marks: Nets in 7

Dave McMenamin: Nets in 6

Monica McNutt: Bucks in 7

Kevin Pelton: Nets in 7

Jorge Sedano: Nets in 7

Ramona Shelburne: Nets in 7

André Snellings: Bucks in 6

Marc J. Spears: Nets in 7

Royce Young: Nets in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk: Nets in 6


Final tally: Nets (13), Bucks (3)