NBA playoff predictions: Forecasting both big matchups in the East

Kawhi Leonard breaks out his usual bag of tricks to lead the Raptors to a 4-1 series win over the Magic, the first 5-game series win in Toronto playoff history. (1:48)

Which two teams will win the Eastern Conference semifinals, and how many games will each series go?

Our ESPN Forecast panel predicts Celtics-Bucks and 76ers-Raptors.

Note: All predictions made before Game 1 of each series. Forecast predictions represent percentage of total votes. BPI and 538 predictions represent likelihood to win.

Likelihood of winning series

ESPN Forecast: Raptors 65 percent | 76ers 35 percent

Basketball Power Index: Raptors (75 percent)

538: Raptors (81 percent)

More:

Experts’ predictions for the conference semifinals

Raptors’ dominant defense on full display in series clincher

Game 1: Saturday | 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT

Likelihood of winning series

ESPN Forecast: Bucks 67 percent | Celtics 33 percent

Basketball Power Index: Bucks (76 percent)

538: Bucks (75 percent)

More:

Lowe’s prediction: Why Celtics-Bucks should be so close

A star is built: Giannis is the best basketball player alive

Game 1: Sunday | 1 p.m. ET, ABC

ESPN Forecast (percentage of votes)

​Bucks: 67 percent

Raptors: 19 percent

Celtics: 14 percent

76ers: 0 percent

Basketball Power Index (projections)

​Bucks: 55.5 percent

Raptors: 29.3 percent

Celtics: 9.9 percent

76ers: 5.3 percent

538 (projections)

​Raptors: 54 percent

Bucks: 34 percent

76ers: 7 percent

Celtics: 5 percent

Image credits: David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images; Brian Babineau/NBAE/Getty Images; Rick Madonik/Toronto Star/Getty Images

http://www.espn.com/espn/rss/news