April 14, 2025
As the 2024-25 NBA regular season comes to a dramatic finish, the race for playoff positioning is finally settling. Here’s a full breakdown of who has clinched playoff spots, who is locked into the play-in tournament, and which teams have been eliminated.
NBA Playoffs and Play-In Tournament Format
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Top six seeds in each conference clinch direct playoff berths.
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Teams ranked 7th through 10th enter the Play-In Tournament (April 15–18).
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The first round of the NBA Playoffs tips off on April 19.
Eastern Conference Playoff Race
Clinched Playoff Teams:
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Cleveland Cavaliers (No. 1 seed, Central Division champions)
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Boston Celtics (No. 2 seed, Atlantic Division champions)
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New York Knicks
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Indiana Pacers
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Milwaukee Bucks
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Detroit Pistons
Play-In Tournament Teams:
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Orlando Magic (No. 7 seed, Southeast Division champions)
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Atlanta Hawks
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Miami Heat
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Chicago Bulls
Eliminated Teams:
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Brooklyn Nets
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Charlotte Hornets
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Philadelphia 76ers
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Toronto Raptors
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Washington Wizards
Key Storylines:
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Cleveland Cavaliers make history by clinching their first No. 1 seed since 2016, highlighted by two separate 15-game winning streaks.
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The Boston Celtics secure the No. 2 seed, marking their 11th straight playoff appearance as they aim to defend their title.
Western Conference Playoff Race
Clinched Playoff Teams:
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Oklahoma City Thunder (No. 1 seed, Northwest Division champions)
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Houston Rockets (Southwest Division champions)
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Los Angeles Lakers
Teams Still Fighting for Seeding:
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Denver Nuggets
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LA Clippers
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Golden State Warriors
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Minnesota Timberwolves
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Memphis Grizzlies
Locked Into Play-In Tournament:
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Dallas Mavericks
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Sacramento Kings
Eliminated Teams:
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New Orleans Pelicans
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Phoenix Suns
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Portland Trail Blazers
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San Antonio Spurs
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Utah Jazz
Key Storylines:
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Oklahoma City Thunder dominate the West with a 28-1 home record, locking home-court advantage through the NBA Finals.
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Houston Rockets return to the playoffs for the first time in five years under head coach Ime Udoka.
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Los Angeles Lakers clinch a playoff berth behind the star power of LeBron James and Luka Doncic, in JJ Redick’s impressive first season as head coach.
Key Dates for NBA Playoffs
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Play-In Tournament: April 15–18
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NBA Playoffs Round 1: Starts April 19
Stay tuned for live updates, clinch scenarios, and final seedings as the playoff drama continues to unfold.
