(AP) - Preview capsule for the Boston-Milwaukee and Memphis-Golden State semifinal series that start tomorrow:
No. 2 BOSTON CELTICS (51-31, 4-0) vs. No. 3 MILWAUKEE BUCKS (51-31, 4-1)
Season series: Tied, 2-2.
Story line: They split four regular-season games, had the same record, had the same conference record and Boston only got seeded ahead of Milwaukee because the Celtics had a better record against East playoff teams — the fifth tiebreaker. Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo is the reigning NBA Finals MVP, but Boston’s Jayson Tatum might have been the best player in Round 1 of the playoffs. And the coaching matchup might be outstanding, considering Milwaukee’s Mike Budenholzer and Boston’s Ime Udoka are both disciples of San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich.
Key matchup: Milwaukee’s Jrue Holiday vs. Boston’s Marcus Smart. Antetokounmpo will be great. Tatum will be great. The real battle might be which guard has the better series. Both are among the very best on-ball defenders in the NBA, both are unselfish and both can take — and make — big shots when the moment demands.
Injury watch: Boston getting Robert Williams III back during Round 1 was a major lift to the Celtics’ title hopes, since he’s such a key part of their defense. Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton dealing with a knee injury is obviously a huge blow to the Bucks.
Numbers of note: The Bucks have won five consecutive playoff series, obviously going back to the start of last season. Before that, they had won five series — total — in the preceding 31 seasons combined. ... The Celtics swept Brooklyn in Round 1, winning those four games by only 18 points. ... Milwaukee is bidding for back-to-back trips to the conference finals for the first time since 1983 and 1984. ... Tatum averaged 31.3 points in the season series, Antetokounmpo averaged 28.3. ... Boston made 17 more 3-pointers in the four head-to-head meetings, 70-53. ... The teams have played only once since Christmas, and Boston is a much different team now than it was in the first half of the season.
Prediction: Antetokounmpo vs. Tatum is going to be a world-class matchup, especially after the way Tatum accepted the challenge of matching wits with Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant in Round 1. Not having Middleton doesn’t help matters for the Bucks, but Milwaukee still has plenty in its arsenal. That said, Boston has home-court and is peaking right now. Celtics in 7.
No. 2 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (56-26, 4-2) vs. No. 3 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (53-29, 4-1)
Season series: Grizzlies, 3-1.
Story line: Ja Morant and the Grizzlies have the look of a team whose time is coming, while Stephen Curry and the Warriors are trying to show their time isn't up. Golden State got Curry back from injury for the playoffs to rejoin Draymond Green and Klay Thompson and again looked like a championship favorite while beating Denver in the first round. But first the Warriors have to get by a Grizzlies team that zoomed past them during the regular season to take second place in the West and home-court advantage for this series.
Key matchup: Jaren Jackson Jr. vs. Green. In a series that will feature plenty of small-ball lineups, the two power forwards will often be the only big men on the floor. They are two of the best and most versatile defenders in the league, which Green proved again with some strong work against reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic in the first round.
Injury watch: Memphis had to finish its first-round victory over Minnesota without center Steven Adams, who was in health and safety protocols, and Ziaire Williams, who had a sore right knee. Golden State's Andre Iguodala missed two games in the first round, including the Game 5 clincher, with a neck injury.
Numbers of note: The Grizzlies have won six of the last nine meetings, including three in a row in Memphis. They handed the Warriors their most lopsided loss of the season with a 123-95 victory on March 28, though Golden State played without Curry, Thompson and Green. ... Curry averaged 28 points and Thompson 22.6 in the first round. The Grizzlies' Desmond Bane made 27 3-pointers, tops among all players thus far, while Thompson hit 22 and Curry 19 to rank third and fourth. ... Memphis averaged 33 points in the fourth quarter during the first round, outscoring Minnesota by 70 points in the period over the final five games after dropping Game 1. ... The Warriors shot 51.5% from the field and 42.2% from 3-point range in the first round.
Prediction: The Warriors and Grizzlies are 1-2 in the playoffs in scoring and have shooters and scorers all over the floor. Memphis showed in the first round it's never out of a game, but Golden State was a dynasty until injuries set in. The Warriors' best players are all healthy now. Golden State in 6.
