Updated NBA Playoffs Bracket: Heat eliminate Hornets

May 1, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) dunks the ball as Charlotte Hornets center Frank Kaminsky III (44) looks on during the first half in game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) dunks the ball as Charlotte Hornets center Frank Kaminsky III (44) looks on during the first half in game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Miami Heat steamrolled their way to the Conference Semifinals. 

While the NBA Playoffs are usually a wash unless something like an injury to a star player happens, the Eastern Conference road to the conference finals has actually been pretty fun so far.

Typically, the Eastern Conference isn’t that fun as it’s predetermined that the Cavaliers are going to win. That’s still the case this year but at least the run up to that has been wildly entertaining to watch. The Heat-Hornets series proved to be at least five games worth of fun.

Game 1 was a blowout but the Hornets hung tight for the five games in-between the series opener and the dud that Game 7 ended up being.

Here’s a look at the updated NBA Playoff bracket now that the Heat are on to a second-round matchup against either the Pacers or Raptors.

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The Heat will now await the winner of the other Game 7 today between the Pacers and Raptors. Everything we’ve seen from all three teams still alive in that scenario seems to suggest we’ll be in for a great next series.

It will probably all come crashing down when the winner gets the Cavaliers in the Conference Finals, but let’s just enjoy the ride.

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