Boston Celtics Report- ESPN

ESPN

Apr 10, 2025, 12:53 AM ET

With the 2024-25 NBA regular season wrapping on April 13, the race for the playoff is coming down to the wire as teams book their postseason spots.

The top six teams from each conference will be assured playoff spots, while team Nos. 7-10 in the standings will enter the play-in tournament (April 15-18). The winner of the game between the No. 7 and No. 8 seed will advance to face the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. The winner between the No. 9 and No. 10 seed will then face the loser of the 7-8 for the chance to then face the No. 1 seed.

- Play-in tournament: Schedule, standings, format

The other two playoff series in each conference will see the No. 3 seed take on the No. 6 seed, and the No. 4 seed face the No. 5 seed.

The first round of the playoffs starts April 19, with the winners of each best-of-seven series advancing to the conference semifinals.

Check back as more teams clinch playoff and play-in spots.

JUMP TO:
East: Playoff race | Who's in?
West: Playoff race | Who's in?

EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF RACE

In the Eastern Conference, the six playoff teams and four play-in teams are set but there's still seeding to figure out.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are the East's top seed with the the defending NBA Finals champion Boston Celtics locked into the second seed. The Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, and New York Knicks have also clinched playoff berths.

The Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, and Orlando Magic are all locked into the play-in tournament and cannot finish higher than sixth.

Eliminated teams: Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards

WHAT HAVE EAST TEAMS CLINCHED?

The following teams will advance to the postseason. Where's what they've clinched:

Cleveland Cavaliers

What they've clinched: No. 1 East seed; won Central Division

The Cavs were the first team to clinch a playoff spot before securing the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference on April 8. It was the first time the franchise earned the top seed in the East since its title-winning season in 2015-16.

Cleveland's remarkable season has been highlighted by two separate winning streaks of at least 15 games, and the team has eclipsed the 60-win mark for the third time in franchise history.

The Cavs reached the playoffs last season as the No. 4 seed, needing seven games to eliminate the Magic in the first round. They were then ousted by the Celtics in the conference semifinals in five games.

Boston Celtics

What they've clinched: No. 2 East seed; won Atlantic Division

The defending NBA Finals champions are looking for their record-extending 19th title, although they will do it as the No. 2 seed in the East this season.

The Celtics finished as the top seed in the East last season on their way to defeating the Mavericks in the NBA Finals. Boston has now made the playoffs for 11 consecutive seasons (the league's longest active streak), and it reached at least the conference finals in four of the past five campaigns.

New York Knicks

What they've clinched: At least a playoff spot

The Knicks will now make three straight playoff appearances for the first time since 2010-13 but have not reached the conference finals since 2000. The team has advanced to the conference semifinals each of the previous two seasons, with last year's exit coming at the hands of the Pacers in seven games.

Indiana Pacers

What they've clinched: At least a playoff spot

After making it to the conference finals last season, the Pacers are back in the playoffs. The Pacers are now aiming to finish among the top four teams, which they last did in 2020.

Milwaukee Bucks

What they've clinched: At least a playoff spot

The Bucks will look to avoid another early exit -- two consecutive first-round losses -- after guaranteeing a spot in the playoffs. But the team remains a model of postseason consistency with nine straight appearances (including the 2022 championship).

Detroit Pistons

What they've clinched: At least a playoff spot

The playoffs are returning to the Motor City. The Pistons were 14-68 last season, which is the worst record for a team to make playoffs the following season in NBA history. Their last playoff appearance was in 2019, where they were swept by the Bucks in the first round.

Orlando Magic

What they've clinched: No. 7 East seed; won Southeast Division

The Magic made the playoffs last season but face an uphill battle this time around as their path will go through the play-in tournament.

Last season's playoff appearance (their first since 2020) saw Orlando exit in the first round in seven games against the Cavaliers.

Atlanta Hawks

What they've clinched: A play-in spot, cannot finish among top six

The Hawks are back in the play-in tournament for the fourth straight season. They failed to advance last year but did reach the playoffs the previous times, losing in the first round on both occasions.

Miami Heat

What they've clinched: A play-in spot; cannot finish among top six

If the Heat are going to make it to the playoffs for the fifth straight time, it will be through the play-in tournament. They've done so the past two postseasons, including reaching the NBA Finals in 2023 as a No. 8 seed.

Chicago Bulls

What they've clinched: A play-in spot; cannot finish among top six

The Bulls are locked into the play-in tournament for the third consecutive season. They won the 9-seed vs. 10-seed matchup and then lost the game for the No. 8 seed in each of the previous two. Their last playoff appearance came in 2022, when they lost to the Bucks in the first round. That marked the last time Chicago had reached the playoffs since 2017.

WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF RACE

In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder have clinched the No. 1 seed for the second straight season, with the Houston Rockets on the verge of locking up the No. 2 spot. The Los Angeles Lakers are also playoff bound, fittingly clinching their spot over the Dallas Mavericks in their April 9 win over Luka Doncic's former team.

But the battle for the other three playoff spots will go down to the wire. Five teams are separated by two games or less in the standings with the Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Memphis Grizzlies all in the hunt.

- Western Conference standings

Teams in the playoffs: Oklahoma City Thunder (No. 1 seed), Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers

Teams in playoff/play-in contention: Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies

Teams locked into the play-in: Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings

Eliminated teams: New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns

WHAT HAVE WEST TEAMS CLINCHED?

The following teams will advance to the postseason. Here's that they've clinched:

Oklahoma City Thunder

What they've clinched: No. 1 West seed; won Northwest Division

OKC has clinched the No. 1 West seed for the sixth time in franchise history (dating back to the Seattle SuperSonics era) and the first instance in consecutive seasons. Even more impressive is the Thunder's 28-1 record against East teams this season -- the best cross-conference record in NBA history. With the win on April 9, the Thunder clinched home court throughout the playoffs, including the NBA Finals.

Last season, they were eliminated in the West's conference semifinals by the Mavericks, who eventually reached the NBA Finals.

Houston Rockets

What they've clinched: At least a playoff spot; won Southwest Division

Under second-year coach Ime Udoka, Houston has clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2020. It's been a turnaround season for the Rockets, who are among several teams bunched toward the top of the West fighting for the No. 2 spot behind the Thunder.

Los Angeles Lakers

What they've clinched: At least a playoff spot

LeBron James and Luka Doncic are playoff bound and are still looking to secure a top-four spot in a tough West. Under first-year coach JJ Redick, the team will now be making its third straight playoff appearance.

Doncic led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season, and will aim to do so again with his new team. Last season, the Lakers reached the first round of the playoffs through the play-in tournament, where they lost to the Nuggets for a second straight postseason.

Denver Nuggets

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

Led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets continue their postseason streak. They have made the playoffs in the past six seasons, including the 2023 title. Nonetheless, they enter uncharted waters after firing longtime coach Mike Malone as coach with less than a week left in the regular season.

Last season, Denver reached the conference semifinals, where they were eliminated by the Timberwolves in a seven-game thriller.

LA Clippers

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

The Clippers are another team assured of at least the play-in tournament, but still have a chance at a playoff spot. Last season, the Clips were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Mavs. They have made the playoffs five out of the previous six seasons.

Golden State Warriors

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

The Warriors are back in the postseason and remain in contention to clinch a playoff spot. Last season, the team failed to advance into the playoffs after losing to the Kings in the play-in tournament. Golden State hopes that the midseason addition of Jimmy Butler III will allow Stephen Curry & Co. to make an extended run this time around.

Minnesota Timberwolves

What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot

The Timberwolves are in the mix for a playoff spot but might have to settle for getting through via the play-in tournament. If they do, it will mark the fourth straight season of playoff basketball in Minnesota. Last year, the Timberwolves reached the conference finals (losing to the Mavericks) for just the second time in franchise history.