NBA Playoff Schedule: Picks and Predictions for Sunday's Postseason Action

The NBA playoffs have finally started, and they look to be just as epic as last year’s insane action.

Round 1 is the best time for basketball junkies, as there is a consistent barrage of games every single night.

Sunday features four solid matchups between eight teams, all of them hopeful that they will get their postseason journey started with a victory.

Let’s take a look at the slate of games and predict some outcomes.

Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs: 1:00 p.m. ET on ESPN

An upstart, feisty No. 8-seeded Memphis Grizzlies team upset the Spurs last year in the playoffs.

They will not let that happen again, and Gregg Popovich’s group will send a clear message to the Jazz to start the series.

San Antonio will win this easily and likely take the series in four games.

Prediction: Spurs 102, Jazz 94

Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers: 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC

This is going to be a great clash between a young team that likes to run-and-gun and move the ball (Denver), and a proud but aging contender that relies heavily on one superstar to score (L.A.).

The X-factor is that there is nothing more important to Kobe Bryant than winning a sixth ring and tying Michael Jordan. The Black Mamba literally is going to will his team to victory in Game 1.

Prediction: Lakers 102, Nuggets 99

Boston Celtics at Atlanta Hawks: 7:00 p.m. ET on TNT

The oddsmakers have the Hawks favored, but Boston is the better team. They nearly beat ATL’s regular starting five in a late-season game with a lineup that included all bench players.

With Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett healthy and active, there is no way that Boston has their last championship run derailed in the first round.

Prediction: Celtics 87, Hawks 84

Los Angeles Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies: 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT

The Clippers foolishly allowed the Knicks to come back and beat them in the last game of the season. It opened the door for the Grizzlies to steal home-court advantage, and they gladly took it.

Now L.A. has to travel all the way to Memphis for a matchup that they aren’t prepared for. It’ll be close, but the grizzled Grizzlies will win.

Prediction: Grizzlies 91, Clippers 89