Mar 27, 2025, 09:47 PM ET
Open Extended Reactions
With less than three weeks 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 clinch 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. Both those teams, along with the New York Knicks, are assured 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 two 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)
Who's eliminated in the East: Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards
Who'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
Breaking News from Shams Charania
Download the ESPN app and enable Shams Charania's news alerts to receive push notifications for the latest updates first. Opt in by tapping the alerts bell in the top right corner. For more information, click here.
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 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.
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).
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.