With less than a month remaining in the 2024-25 NBA regular season, the playoff picture is rapidly becoming clearer as teams secure their postseason berths.
The top six teams from each conference will automatically qualify for the playoffs, while teams ranked 7th to 10th will participate in the play-in tournament, scheduled from April 15-18. Ultimately, two teams from each conference will advance from the play-in to complete the eight-team playoff bracket, with the first round of the playoffs commencing on April 19.
In the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers hold a significant lead over the Boston Celtics, the reigning champions, for the top seed. They are currently the only teams in the East to have officially clinched playoff spots.
In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder have secured the top seed for the second consecutive season. However, the race for the No. 2 seed remains highly competitive, with four teams — the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Memphis Grizzlies — all within two games of each other.
Check back for updates as more teams clinch playoff and play-in spots.
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: TBD
Western Conference Eliminated Teams: Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans
* Clinched at least a play-in tournament spot, but not yet guaranteed playoffs
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Cleveland Cavaliers
Clinch Status: Playoff spot secured; Central Division champions
The Cavaliers are the first team to secure a playoff spot 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 defending NBA Finals champions are aiming for a record-extending 19th title, although 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, culminating in their victory over 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 advanced to 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 each of the past two seasons, with last year’s exit at the hands of the Pacers in seven games. The Knicks have not reached the conference finals since 2000.
Milwaukee Bucks
Clinch Status: Play-in spot secured
After securing a postseason berth, the Bucks are determined to avoid another early playoff exit, following two consecutive first-round losses. The dynamic duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard will focus on staying healthy to make a deep playoff run this year.
Indiana Pacers
Clinch Status: Play-in spot secured
Following their conference finals appearance last season, the Pacers are back in the postseason. With a relatively easier schedule remaining 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 a franchise-worst 14-68 record last season, the Pistons are heading to the postseason. Their last play-in appearance was in 2019, where they were swept in four games by the Bucks in the first round.
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. Notably, the Thunder have an impressive 24-1 record against Eastern Conference teams this season.
Last season, they were eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals by the Mavericks, who eventually reached the NBA Finals.
