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 the commanding lead over the defending champion Boston Celtics for the top seed. The Cavs also became the first team to clinch a playoff spot.
In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder are looking to clinch the top spot for the second straight season. But it remains a tight race for the No. 2 seed with four teams — the Los Angeles Lakers, the Denver Nuggets, the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Houston Rockets — all within two games of each other.
Check back as more teams clinch playoff and play-in spots.
Who’s clinched in the East: Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks*
Who’s clinched in the West: Oklahoma City Thunder
Who’s eliminated in the East: TBD
Who’s eliminated in the West: Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans
*at least clinched 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
The Cavs are first the team to clinch a playoff spot and are on target to clinch 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 No. 5 seed Orlando Magic in the first round. They were then ousted by the No. 1 seed Boston 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 are likely are finishing 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 Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. Boston has now made the playoffs for 11 consecutive seasons (the league’s longest active streak), and 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 Indiana Pacers in seven games. The Knicks have not reached the conference finals since 2000.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
What they’ve clinched: At least a playoff spot
The Thunder have been at the top of the Western Conference for most of the season, and are looking to make it consecutive seasons in clinching the No. 1 seed. After their March 12 win over the Celtics, OKC improved their season record against East teams to an impressive 22-1.
Last season, they were eliminated in the conference semifinals by the Dallas Mavericks, who eventually reached the NBA Finals.
