NBA playoff predictions: Forecasting both big matchups in the East

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 were made before Game 1 of each series. Forecast predictions represent percentage of total votes. BPI and FiveThirtyEight predictions represent likelihood to win.

(2) Raptors vs. (3) 76ers

Likelihood of winning series

• ESPN Forecast: Raptors 65 percent | 76ers 35 percent

• Basketball Power Index: Raptors (75 percent)

• FiveThirtyEight: 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

(1) Bucks vs. (4) Celtics

Likelihood of winning series

• ESPN Forecast: Bucks 67 percent | Celtics 33 percent

• Basketball Power Index: Bucks (76 percent)

• FiveThirtyEight: 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

Which East team will make the NBA Finals?

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

FiveThirtyEight (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}