With less than a month left in the 2024-25 NBA regular season, 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.
In the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers have a commanding lead over the defending champion Boston Celtics for the top seed. They are the only East teams to officially book playoff spots.
In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder have clinched the top spot for the second straight season. But it remains a tight race for the No. 2 seed with four teams — the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, the Memphis Grizzlies — all within three games of each other.
Check back as more teams clinch playoff and play-in spots.
Who has clinched in the East: Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks*, Milwaukee Bucks*, Indiana Pacers*, Detroit Pistons*Who has clinched in the West: Oklahoma City Thunder (1), Houston Rockets*
Who’s eliminated in the East: Charlotte Hornets, Washington WizardsWho’s eliminated in the West: New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz
* have clinched at least a spot for the play-in tournament, but not yet the playoffs
JUMP TO: East teams | West teams
EASTERN CONFERENCE
What they’ve clinched: At least a playoff spot; won Central Division
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The Cavs are 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, which has led them to the fifth-best start in NBA 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.
What they’ve clinched: At least a playoff spot
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.
What they’ve clinched: At least a play-in spot
The Knicks have advanced to a conference semifinals each of the previous two seasons, with last year’s exit coming at the hands of the Pacers in seven games. The Knicks have not reached the conference finals since 2000.
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. Dynamic duo Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard will aim to stay healthy this time around to make a deep run.
What they’ve clinched: At least a play-in spot
After making it to the conference finals last season, the Pacers are back in the postseason. With one of the easier schedules left in the East, they will look to hold on to a top-six seeding to guarantee a spot in the playoffs.
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.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
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 record against East teams this season (24-1).
Last season, they were eliminated in the West’s conference semifinals by the Mavericks, who eventually reached the NBA Finals.
What they’ve clinched: At least a play-in spot
Under second-year coach Ime Udoka, Houston on the verge of reaching the playoffs 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.
