The stage is set for the much-anticipated NBA playoffs after the regular season came to an end on Wednesday night. Fans have witnessed 117 days of drama, thrills, heartbreak and triumphs since the Cleveland Cavaliers took on the Boston Celtics at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio last October 17 in the season-opener. 

Now all eyes are on the playoffs which will get underway on Saturday. The season will end with the finals which are due to begin on May 31.

Ahead of Saturday’s Round 1, here is a short preview of every first-round series.

The Rockets have been the best performers this NBA season since their blazing winning start against the defending champions Warriors at Oracle Arena on opening night. They have never quite looked back since then with James Harden gunning for the first Most Valuable Player trophy of his career as a result of a dominant season. 

While Houston booked the berth quite early in the season, the Wolves secured a playoff slot on the regular season’s final night after edging past the Denver Nuggets.

It’s been a roller-coaster season for the defending champions as they could manage to win 58 games despite boasting four All-Stars. The Warriors literally huffed and puffed to the finishing line this season after losing six of their last 10 games even though they had the presence of Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Unfortunately for San Antonio, they have also worked with a depleted side having played almost the entire season without their best player, two-time Defensive Player of the Year and top-three MVP finisher Kawhi Leonard.

Damian Lillard has been quite a revelation at the guard position this year as he guided the Blazers to the top of the tier just below Houston and Golden State out West. If C.J. McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic and Terry Stotts’ army can live up to their expectations then the Blazers have every reason to be upbeat ahead of the playoffs. The Pelicans team is built around Anthony Davis and his injured partner DeMarcus Cousins. They have a tough task ahead for sure.

It’s been an incredible success story for the Jazz as the team made a phoenix-like rise from the ashes on multiple occasions during the season. On the other hand, Utah has been one of the most promising sides this season with the Rookie of the Year hopeful Donovan Mitchell spearheading their challenge.

After a disappointing end to last season, the Raptors are determined to overcome the nightmares of their previous season as they have one of the NBA’s best offenses. Coach Dwane Casey’s boys are having the fire in their belly and may turn a table or two. The Wizards with their All-Star backcourt intact, along with frontcourt bully Markieff Morris and wings Otto Porter Jr and Kelly Oubre Jr, are known be the tough challengers in the Eastern Conference.

Spearheaded by All-Star center Al Horford, Boston will be up against its rivals from Milwaukee and won’t leave any stone unturned to reign supreme. They have enough young talent – wings Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, reserve guard Terry Rozier – to go for the kill on any given night. On the other hand, the Bucks have the ability to cause an upset in Round 1 with an in-form Giannis Antetokounmpo in their ranks.

For the Sixers, point guard Ben Simmons is more than a revelation this season while the presence of Dario Saric and Markelle Fultz have given them the edge. However, the gritty Miami side won’t let the opportunity go and the playmaking of Goran Dragic, occasional flashes of brilliance from Hassan Whiteside and James Johnson can surely compel the Sixers to face the heat.

It’s been a mixed season for the Cavs and but as LeBron James is going to start a playoff series at home, they can remain optimistic. On the other hand, the Pacers started the season as the rank-outsiders but have come a long way. Despite starting as underdogs, they have the ability to upset the applecart of James and the Cavs.