With the 2024-25 NBA regular season nearing its end, the picture for the playoffs is becoming clearer as teams secure their places in the postseason.
The top six teams from each conference will automatically qualify for the playoffs, while teams ranked 7th to 10th will compete in the play-in tournament scheduled from April 15-18. From the play-in tournament, two teams from each conference will advance to complete the eight-team playoff bracket. The first round of the playoffs is set to begin on April 19.
In the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers are significantly ahead of the Boston Celtics, the current champions, for the top seed. Currently, they are the only teams in the East that have officially secured playoff spots.
In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder have secured the top position for the second consecutive year. The race for the second seed remains competitive among four teams: the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Memphis Grizzlies, all within two games of each other.
Continue to check back for updates as more teams clinch playoff and play-in positions.
Eastern Conference Clinched Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks*, Milwaukee Bucks*, Indiana Pacers*, Detroit Pistons*
Western Conference Clinched Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder (1)
Eastern Conference Eliminated Teams: Washington Wizards
Western Conference Eliminated Teams: Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans
* Clinched at least a play-in tournament spot, but not yet confirmed for playoffs
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Cleveland Cavaliers
Clinch status: Playoff spot secured; Central Division Champions
The Cavaliers are the first team to secure a playoff berth and are on track to clinch the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since their championship season in 2015-16.
Cleveland`s impressive season includes two separate winning streaks of at least 15 games, marking their season as the fifth-best start in NBA history.
Last season, the Cavs entered the playoffs as the No. 4 seed, defeating the Magic in seven games in the first round before being eliminated by the Celtics in the conference semifinals in five games.
Boston Celtics
Clinch status: Playoff spot secured
The reigning NBA Finals champions are aiming for their record-extending 19th title, though they are likely to finish as the No. 2 seed in the East this season.
The Celtics were the top seed in the East last season, eventually defeating the Mavericks in the NBA Finals. Boston has now reached the playoffs for 11 consecutive seasons, the longest active streak in the league, and has reached at least the conference finals in four of the last five seasons.
New York Knicks
Clinch status: Play-in spot secured
The Knicks have reached the conference semifinals in the past two seasons, with last year`s exit being against the Pacers in seven games. The Knicks have not advanced to the conference finals since 2000.
Milwaukee Bucks
Clinch status: Play-in spot secured
The Bucks will be looking to avoid another early playoff exit, after two consecutive first-round losses, having secured a postseason spot. The dynamic duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard will aim to remain healthy to make a deep playoff run this year.
Indiana Pacers
Clinch status: Play-in spot secured
After reaching the conference finals last season, the Pacers are returning to the postseason. With one of the easiest remaining schedules in the East, they will aim to maintain a top-six seeding to guarantee a direct playoff spot.
Detroit Pistons
Clinch status: Play-in spot secured
After finishing with a 14-68 record last season, the worst in franchise history, the Pistons are now heading to the postseason play-in tournament. Their last postseason appearance was in 2019, where they were swept in the first round by the Bucks.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Oklahoma City Thunder
Clinch status: No. 1 West seed; Northwest Division Champions
OKC has clinched the No. 1 seed in the West for the sixth time in franchise history (including the Seattle SuperSonics era) and for the first time in consecutive seasons. Their record against Eastern Conference teams this season is particularly impressive at 24-1.
Last season, they were eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals by the Mavericks, who went on to reach the NBA Finals.