With the 2024-25 NBA regular season wrapping on April 13, the playoff picture will soon start to get clearer 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). Two teams in each conference will then emerge to fill out the eight-team field, with the first round of the playoffs starting April 19.
Check back as more teams clinch playoff and play-in spots.
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East: Playoff race | Play-in race | Whose in?
West: Playoff race | Play-in race | Whose in?
EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF RACE
In the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers have a sizable lead over the defending champion Boston Celtics for the top seed. The New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers have also clinched playoff berths so far.
Eliminated teams in the East: Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards
EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAY-IN RACE
The teams that finish Nos. 7-10 in the standings advance to the play-in tournament. 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.
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: At least a playoff spot; won Central Division
The Cavs were the first team to clinch a playoff spot and are on target to secure the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since their 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 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: At least a playoff spot; won Atlantic Division
The defending NBA Finals champions are looking for their record-extending 19th title, although they likely will finish 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 play-in spot
The Bucks will look to avoid another early exit from the playoffs -- two consecutive first-round losses -- after guaranteeing a spot in the postseason. 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 play-in spot
After finishing 14-68 last season, the worst record in franchise history, the Pistons are now heading to the postseason. They last made the play-in in 2019 but were swept in four games by the Bucks in the first round.
Orlando Magic
What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot
The Magic made the playoffs last season but face an uphill battle this time around as their path will likely 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: At least a play-in spot
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: At least a play-in spot
If the Heat are going to make it to the playoffs for the fifth straight time, it will likely 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 top spot for the second straight season but the rest of the field remains fluid. The West has been a season-long battle for playoff positioning and looks to be going down to the wire. The teams currently in the 3-8 spots are all separated by three games or less.
Eliminated teams in the West: New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz
WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAY-IN RACE
The teams that finish Nos. 7-10 in the standings advance to the play-in tournament. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Last season, Denver reached the conference semifinals, where they were eliminated by the Timberwolves in a seven-game thriller.
Los Angeles Lakers
What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot
LeBron James and Luka Doncic are trying to secure the highest seed possible for the Lakers in a tough West. Under first-year coach JJ Redick, the team is on the verge of 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.
Memphis Grizzlies
What they've clinched: At least a play-in spot
After missing the playoffs last season, the Grizzlies have bounced back this time around. However, it's been a tumultuous time, as the team fired Taylor Jenkins as coach with just two weeks left in the regular season.
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 the No. 6 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.
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 the No. 6 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 seasons.