The NBA Conference Finals are here. Which of the league’s final four teams will play for the Larry O’Brien Trophy next month?
The top-seeded Boston Celtics remain title favorites despite the uncertain status of big man Kristaps Porzingis, who has not played since April 29 due to a calf strain. Sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday that Porzingis is expected to miss at least the first two games of the series against the Indiana Pacers.
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks, meanwhile, enter their series having eliminated the top two seeds in the Western Conference.
Who will advance to the final? Ahead of Game 1 between the Celtics and Pacers (8 p.m. ET on ESPN), our NBA experts predict every Conference Finals matchup, including which superstars could take home MVP honors in each series.
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Eastern Finals
Kendra Andrews: Celtics in 6 | Series MVP: Jayson Tatum
Jerry Bembry: Pacers in 7 | Series MVP: Tyrese Haliburton
Tim Bontemps: Celtics in 6 | Series MVP: Jayson Tatum
Israel Gutiérrez: Celtics in 6 | Series MVP: Derrick White
Chris Herring: Celtics in 5 | Series MVP: Derrick White
Tim Legler: Celtics in 7 | Series MVP: Jayson Tatum
Tim MacMahon: Celtics in 6 | Series MVP: Jrue Holiday
Bobby Marks: Pacers in 6 | Series MVP: Pascal Siakam
Dave McMenamin: Celtics in 5 | Series MVP: Jayson Tatum
Kevin Pelton: Celtics in 5 | Series MVP: Jaylen Brown
Omar Raja: Celtics in 5 | Series MVP: Jaylen Brown
Jorge Sédano: Celtics in 6 | Series MVP: Jayson Tatum
Ramona Shelburne: Celtics in 6 | Series MVP: Jayson Tatum
André Snellings: Celtics in 7 | Series MVP: Jayson Tatum
Marc J. Spears: Celtics in 6 | Series MVP: Jayson Tatum
Ohm Youngmisuk: Celtics in 6 | Series MVP: Jayson Tatum
Final countdown
Winner: Celtics 14, Pacers 2.
Series MVP: Jayson Tatum 9, Jaylen Brown 2, Derrick White 2, Tyrese Haliburton 1, Jrue Holiday 1, Pascal Siakam 1.
West Finals
Kendra Andrews: Timber wolves in 6 | Series MVP: Anthony Edwards
Jerry Bembry: Timber wolves in 6 | Series MVP: Anthony Edwards
Tim Bontemps: Mavericks in 6 | Series MVP: Luka Doncic
Israel Gutiérrez: Mavericks in 6 | Series MVP: Luka Doncic
Chris Herring: Mavericks in 7 | Series MVP: Luka Doncic
Tim Legler: Mavericks in 7 | Series MVP: Luka Doncic
Bobby Marks: Mavericks in 6 | Series MVP: Kyrie Irving
Dave McMenamin: Timber wolves in 6 | Series MVP: Jaden McDaniels
Kevin Pelton: Timber wolves in 7 | Series MVP: Anthony Edwards
Omar Raja: Timber wolves in 6 | Series MVP: Anthony Edwards
Jorge Sédano: Timber wolves in 7 | Series MVP: Anthony Edwards
Ramona Shelburne: Timber wolves in 7 | Series MVP: Anthony Edwards
André Snellings: Timber wolves in 6 | Series MVP: Anthony Edwards
Marc J. Spears: Timber wolves in 7 | Series MVP: Anthony Edwards
Ohm Youngmisuk: Mavericks in 7 | Series MVP: Luka Doncic
Final countdown
Winner: Timberwolves 9, Mavericks 6.
Series MVP: Anthony Edwards 8, Luka Doncic 5, Kyrie Irving 1, Jaden McDaniels 1.
