NBA Playoff Picture: Eastern and Western Conference Battles Heat Up
As the 2024-25 NBA regular season draws to a close on April 13, the excitement is palpable. Teams are scrambling to secure their spots in the postseason, and fans are on the edge of their seats. The top six teams from each conference will automatically qualify for the playoffs, while teams ranked 7th to 10th will have to battle it out in the play-in tournament, scheduled from April 15 to 18. The stakes are high, and the competition is fierce.
In the play-in tournament, the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds will face off, with the winner advancing to play the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the No. 9 and No. 10 seeds will compete, and the victor will then challenge the loser of the 7-8 matchup for a chance to face the No. 1 seed. It’s a thrilling format that keeps fans engaged until the very last game.
For those eager to follow the action, you can find the Play-in tournament: Schedule, standings, format on ESPN’s website.
Once the play-in dust settles, the first round of the playoffs will kick off on April 19. The winners of each best-of-seven series will advance to the conference semifinals, setting the stage for even more intense matchups.
Stay tuned as more teams clinch their playoff and play-in spots. The drama is far from over!
Eastern Conference Playoff Matchups
In the Eastern Conference, the playoff picture is becoming clearer. The six playoff teams and four play-in teams are set, with the play-in games scheduled for April 15, 16, and 18. Here’s a quick look at the matchups:
- Tuesday, April 15: No. 8 Atlanta Hawks at No. 7 Orlando Magic (winner advances to play No. 2 Boston)
- Wednesday, April 16: No. 10 Miami Heat at No. 9 Chicago Bulls (winner advances to play loser of the 7-8 game)
- Friday, April 17: Winner 9/10 vs. loser 7/8 (winner advances to play No. 1 Cleveland)
As for the first-round series, the matchups are as follows:
- No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. TBD
- No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. TBD
- No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Detroit Pistons
- No. 4 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks
Unfortunately, some teams have been eliminated from playoff contention, including the Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, and Washington Wizards.
What Have East Teams Clinched?
Let’s take a closer look at what each Eastern Conference team has clinched:
Cleveland Cavaliers
What they’ve clinched: No. 1 East seed; won Central Division
The Cavaliers have had a remarkable season, clinching the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since their title-winning season in 2015-16. With two separate winning streaks of at least 15 games, they’ve surpassed the 60-win mark for the third time in franchise history.
Boston Celtics
What they’ve clinched: No. 2 East seed; won Atlantic Division
The defending NBA Finals champions, the Boston Celtics, are aiming for their 19th title. They’ve made the playoffs for 11 consecutive seasons, reaching at least the conference finals in four of the past five campaigns.
New York Knicks
What they’ve clinched: No. 3 East seed; will face the Detroit Pistons in the first round
The Knicks are making their third straight playoff appearance, a feat they haven’t achieved since 2010-13. However, they haven’t reached the conference finals since 2000.
Indiana Pacers
What they’ve clinched: No. 4 East seed; will face the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round
After reaching the conference finals last season, the Pacers are back in the playoffs with home court advantage for the first round. They haven’t finished among the top four East teams since 2020.
Milwaukee Bucks
What they’ve clinched: No. 5 East seed; will face the Indiana Pacers in the first round
The Bucks are looking to avoid another early exit after two consecutive first-round losses. They’ve made the playoffs nine straight times, including their 2022 championship run.
Detroit Pistons
What they’ve clinched: No. 6 East seed; will face the New York Knicks in the first round
The Pistons are back in the playoffs after a historic turnaround from a 14-68 record last season. Their last playoff appearance was in 2019, where they were swept by the Bucks.
Orlando Magic
What they’ve clinched: No. 7 East seed; won Southeast Division; will face the Atlanta Hawks in the play-in
The Magic are in the play-in tournament after making the playoffs last season. They exited in the first round against the Cavaliers in seven games.
Atlanta Hawks
What they’ve clinched: No. 8 East seed; will face the Orlando Magic in the play-in
The Hawks are in the play-in tournament for the fourth straight season. They failed to advance last year but reached the playoffs in previous attempts.
Chicago Bulls
What they’ve clinched: No. 9 East seed; will face the Miami Heat in the play-in
The Bulls are in the play-in tournament for the third consecutive season. They won the 9-seed vs. 10-seed matchup in previous years but failed to secure the No. 8 seed.
Miami Heat
What they’ve clinched: No. 10 East seed; will face the Chicago Bulls in the play-in
The Heat are aiming for their fifth straight playoff appearance through the play-in tournament. They reached the NBA Finals in 2023 as a No. 8 seed.
Western Conference Playoff Race
Over in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder have clinched the No. 1 seed for the second consecutive season. The Houston Rockets are on the verge of securing the No. 2 spot, while the Los Angeles Lakers have also punched their ticket to the playoffs. The battle for the remaining playoff spots is intense, with the Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Memphis Grizzlies all in contention.
For more details, check out the Western Conference standings.
Here’s a quick rundown of the teams in the playoffs and those still fighting for a spot:
- 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
What Have West Teams Clinched?
Let’s take a closer look at what each Western Conference team has clinched:
Oklahoma City Thunder
What they’ve clinched: No. 1 West seed; won Northwest Division
The Thunder have clinched the No. 1 West seed for the sixth time in franchise history. Their 29-1 record against East teams this season is the best cross-conference record in NBA history.
Houston Rockets
What they’ve clinched: At least a playoff spot; won Southwest Division
Under second-year coach Ime Udoka, the Rockets have clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2020. They’re on the verge of securing 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, aiming to secure a top-four spot in the West. Under first-year coach JJ Redick, the Lakers are making their third straight playoff appearance.
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.
LA Clippers
What they’ve clinched: At least a play-in spot
The Clippers are assured of at least the play-in tournament, with a chance at a playoff spot. 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, hoping to clinch a playoff spot. They aim for an extended run with the midseason addition of Jimmy Butler III.
Minnesota Timberwolves
What they’ve clinched: At least a play-in spot
The Timberwolves are in the mix for a playoff spot, marking the fourth straight season of playoff basketball in Minnesota.
Memphis Grizzlies
What they’ve clinched: At least a play-in spot
After missing the playoffs last season, the Grizzlies have bounced back. However, it’s been a tumultuous time with the firing of coach Taylor Jenkins.
Sacramento Kings
What they’ve clinched: A play-in spot; cannot finish among top six
The Kings are in the play-in tournament for the second time in a row, likely finishing as the No. 9 seed.
Dallas Mavericks
What they’ve clinched: A play-in spot; cannot finish among top six
The Mavericks are in the play-in this season after finishing as the No. 5 seed last season. They reached the NBA Finals before losing to the Celtics.
Originally Written by: ESPN
