How the NBA playoff situation looks after the weekend’s action

We’re now in the home stretch of the NBA 2024-25 regular season and with most teams only having less than a dozen games left to play, a clearer picture in each conference is emerging as to which teams will be involved in post-season and which teams need a final push. We’re also starting to see teams fall by the wayside with nothing more than pride to play for at this juncture of the season.

The regular season wraps up on April 13 when the curtain comes down before on the regular season before the Play-in Tournament commences.

The top six teams in each conference advance directly to the playoffs, while spots seven and eight are determined by the Play-in Tournament (which is competed by teams who finish in 7-10th places).

• For now, there are eight teams that have mathematically secured their direct ticket to the NBA postseason: Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons and Oklahoma City Thunder.
• On the flip side, Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans, from the West along with Washington Wizards, from the East are all mathematically eliminated.

Eastern Conference Overview

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs have both secured their playoff spot and clinched the Central Division title and were the first team to secure their playoff spot. The Cavs became Central Division champions for the first time since 2017-18 and achieved their second streak of at least 15 consecutive victories this season.

The team from Cleveland will be hoping to improve on their 2023-24 postseason when they were eliminated by the Celtics in the conference semifinals in five games.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics and reigning NBA champions are looking to defend their crown and have made the playoffs in the last 10 seasons, and if that weren’t enough, they have reached the conference finals in four of the last five seasons.

New York Knicks

The New York Knicks have secured at least a spot in the play-in tournament and are looking to regain a place at the top table of the NBA. Their last two NBA championships came in 1973, and for now they are guaranteed to finish in the top 10 of the Eastern Conference, ensuring their participation in the postseason for the third consecutive year.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks have secured at least a spot in the play-in tournament and despite a poor run in the last two postseasons, with back-to-back first-round losses; now with the tandem of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, they’re hoping to go further in 2025.

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers have secured at least a spot in the play-in tournament and are aiming for another Eastern Conference final, just as they did last season.

Detroit Pistons

After finishing with a 14-68 record last season, their worst in franchise history, the Pistons are now headed to the postseason. As things stand, the team from Detroit are guaranteed at least a play-in place. They last made the play-in in 2019, after finishing with a 41-41 regular season record, but were swept in four games by the Bucks in the first round.

The situation in the East:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers | 57-14
2. Boston Celtics | 52-19
3. New York Knicks | 44-26
4. Indiana Pacers | 41-29
5. Milwaukee Bucks | 40-30
6. Detroit Pistons | 40-32
7. Atlanta Hawks | 35-36
8. Orlando Magic | 33-38
9. Chicago Bulls | 31-40
10. Miami Heat | 30-41

Western Conference Overview

Oklahoma City Thunder

OKC have secured at least a spot in the play-in tournament and have also bagged the Northwest Division title.

The Thunder continue to shine this season and remain at the top of the West with an impressive 55-12 record. They have been at the top for most of the season, so if they continue, they will look to be the first seed.

Last season, Oklahoma City lost in the conference semifinals to the Dallas Mavericks.

This is how the positions in the West are going:

1. Oklahoma City Thunder | 58-12
2. Houston Rockets | 46-25
3. Denver Nuggets | 44-27
4. Los Angeles Lakers | 43-27
5. Memphis Grizzlies | 43-28
6. Golden State Warriors | 41-30
7. Los Angeles Clippers | 40-30
8. Minnesota Timberwolves | 41-31
9. Sacramento Kings | 35-35
10. Phoenix Suns | 34-37

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