Here's an outlook of the NBA's second-round, best-of-seven playoff matchups:

EAST

1-Cleveland (61-21) vs. Boston (50-32)
Forecast – Cavaliers over Celtics, 4-2

This should be an ugly, knockdown, drag-out affair as both teams do not like each other. Two-time NBA MVP LeBron James, who hit at a 31.8-point clip on .567 (55-for-97) field-goal shooting and normed 9.2 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.0 blocked shots per game against Chicago, is clearly bothered by a sore right elbow and bone bruise and this injury could be a factor if the series stretches to six games or more. The Cavs took the series opener, 101-93, at home.

2-Orlando (59-23) vs. 3-Atlanta (53-29)
Forecast – Magic over Hawks, 4-1

The Magic are the only unbeaten squad entering the second round, having whitewashed the Charlotte Bobcats in four games despite a so-so, foul-plagued performance by two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard, who collected just 9.8 ppg and 9.3 rpg along with 5.0 bpg and was whistled 22 out of a possible 24 fouls in the series. Comebacking guard Jameer Nelson, who struggled during the 2009 Finals against the LA Lakers after sitting out the playoffs’ first three rounds due to an injury, was sensational vs. the Bobcats with 23.8 ppg. Atlanta was stretched to a maximum seven games by Milwaukee after trailing 3-2 in their first round series.

WEST

1-LA Lakers (57-25) vs. 5-Utah (53-29)
Forecast – Lakers over Jazz, 4-2

Against Oklahoma City, Thunder, Kobe Bryant normed 23.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 4.3 apg but appeared to have lost some of his elevation and explosiveness while hobbled by a swollen right knee, an ankle sprain and a broken bone in the index finger of his right shooting hand that resulted in a 49-for-120 floor shooting and a miserable .408 clip. To reach the West finals, the Lakers need big men Pau Gasol (18.0 ppg, 12.2 rpg) and Andrew Bynum (12.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.17 bpg – he suffered a small tear in the meniscus in his right knee in the series finale vs. Thunder) and chief substitute Lamar Odom (7.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg) to do more on both ends of the floor on a consistent basis.

The Jazz, whom the Lakers knocked out of the playoffs the last two years, hope do-it-all point guard Deron Williams’ bruised left elbow won’t be a factor. They may also get back Andrei Kirilenko at some point in this series.

LA, which beat the Jazz 3-1 during the regular campaign, took the series opener, 104-99, behind Bryant’s 31 points and Gasol’s 25 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks. Lakers coach Phil Jackson is 45-0 when his teams win Game One of a playoff series.

3-Phoenix (54-28) vs. 7-San Antonio (50-32)
Forecast – Suns over Spurs, 4-3

It’s a series pitting two teams with contrasting styles. The Suns, the NBA’s highest-scoring unit, run a lot while the Spurs are very comfortable with their half-court set.

Phoenix outgunned injury-riddled Portland in the first round behind Amare Stoudemire (20.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Jason Richardson (23.5 ppg), Grant Hill (8.0 ppg) and the straw that stirs the Suns’ drink, ageless playmaker Steve Nash (15.0 ppg, 9.8 apg). San Antonio has four double-figure playoff scorers but look for Jefferson to finally get his offense going against the Suns.