NBA playoffs 2022 - Our experts answer big first-round questions

The NBA playoffs are here with four first-round games taking place on Saturday and Sunday.

In the East, all eyes will be on the Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets series as Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving look to upset the No. 2 seed Celtics, who are without injured center Robert Williams III, in what should be a competitive series.

Out West, injuries could dictate the teams that advance. Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic will miss Saturday's Game 1 against the Utah Jazz because of a strained left calf, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim MacMahon. And Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is listed as probable for Game 1 against the Denver Nuggets after missing the last 12 games of the regular season with a left foot injury.

Which returning player could have the biggest impact? Which higher seed can least afford to lose Game 1 this weekend? Our NBA experts break down the top first-round storylines.

MORE: What to know for the NBA postseason | Schedules

Kevin Pelton: Boston and Brooklyn. As I laid out in my series preview, the Nets have been much better than their overall record with Kevin Durant healthy and Kyrie Irving available alongside him, while the Celtics aren't the same juggernaut without injured center Robert Williams III. As a result, these teams look surprisingly even for the No. 2 and No. 7 seeds.

Tim Bontemps: Many will probably say Nets-Celtics, given the star power involved, but I'm going to go with another Eastern Conference series: Philadelphia-Toronto. The 76ers have the best player in the series by a significant amount in Joel Embiid. But Toronto should have a coaching advantage, Philadelphia won't have Matisse Thybulle for all three games in Toronto, and the Raptors have the perfect