There are no NBA games Monday, April 8, which is usually the case with the men’s NCAA national championship game taking place. This means it’s a great time to check in on how the playoff picture is shaping up with one week left in the 2023-24 regular season.
While all 20 teams for the postseason have been decided if you include the play-in tournament, not every team has clinched a playoff spot yet. Teams from seventh through 10th will participate in the play-in bracket to determine the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds, while the top six teams in each conference qualify for the postseason automatically. Here’s a look at which teams have qualified for the 2024 NBA Playoffs as the last week of regular season games begins.
Eastern Conference
Boston Celtics
The Celtics have clinched the best record in the league, meaning they have homecourt advantage throughout the postseason. After last year’s campaign ended in Game 7 at home to the Heat, the Celtics will be hoping to get back to the NBA Finals and finish the job this year.
Milwaukee Bucks
It has been an interesting year for the Bucks, who made a big trade for Damian Lillard in the offseason and swapped head coach Adrian Griffen for Doc Rivers after 43 games. Milwaukee has struggled of late but it’s all about what this team does in the postseason to determine if the season was a success.
New York Knicks
The Knicks were unable to clinch a playoff berth Tuesday but got better luck Wednesday with the Heat losing. New York won’t be getting Julius Randle back this season but this is a loaded unit with enough depth to make a run in the East. As long as Jalen Brunson can replicate his production from a year ago, the Knicks are a threat for the Finals.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers have clinched a playoff spot after defeating the Pacers on Friday, April 12. Cleveland is hoping to erase the memories of a brutal 4-1 loss in the first round last year to the Knicks, giving New York its first playoff series win since 2012. Cleveland is getting healthy at the right time and should be a bit more under the radar this year, giving it an edge.
Orlando Magic
The Magic won on the final day of the regular season to clinch the No. 5 seed. Orlando is making the playoffs after a three-year absence and will be hoping to create some noise with house money. Paolo Banchero is on the cusp of superstardom in his second season, which gives the Magic a bright future even if their playoff stay is short.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers won on the final day of the regular season to secure a playoff berth. Indiana is the No. 6 seed due to Orlando’s win. We saw Tyrese Haliburton shine in the In-Season Tournament this year and he could deliver an encore performance in the playoffs. Having a second star in Pascal Siakam certainly helps, and Indiana’s offense makes it a legitimate threat in the East.
Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers clinched a playoff spot after winning the play-in game for the No. 7 seed over Miami. Philadelphia mounted a big comeback thanks to some inspired play for Nicolas Batum, and was able to salt the game away late with free throws to set up a showdown with the Knicks in the first round.
Miami Heat
Despite being without star Jimmy Butler due to injury, the Heat dominated the Bulls in the eighth-seed play-in game, 112-91, thanks to Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr. carrying the load. Miami will now get the opportunity to pull off the unthinkable and upset the top-seeded Boston Celtics. Don’t hold your breath, though.
Western Conference
Denver Nuggets
The defending champions have secured a playoff spot as they look to become the first team since the 2018-19 Warriors to repeat. Nikola Jokic is set to receiver another MVP award as Denver looks to stave off some young cores to clinch the No. 1 seed in the West.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s rise to superstardom, the Thunder have finally arrived and are in contention for the No. 1 seed. We’ll see if this young core can hold it together down the stretch before getting some crucial rest ahead of the postseason.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards has made this team a contender as he continues to develop into a star. Karl-Anthony Towns’ injury situation hurts the Timberwolves a bit but the big man could come back for the playoffs. That makes Minnesota a tough out.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers clinched a playoff spot Tuesday, April 9 with a win over the Suns in a game that saw them jump to a 35-4 lead. Los Angeles getting this automatic spot means at least a week of rest, which benefits the team as Kawhi Leonard recovers from a knee injury. If the Clippers can get healthy, they are a dangerous playoff outfit.
Dallas Mavericks
At one point, the Mavericks were destined for the play-in game. However, they got on a nice winning streak and are now in the playoffs. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving missed out on this opportunity last year due to strategic tanking, but that backcourt will now be a major headache for the rest of the conference. Both are proven playoff performers and could carry this team far.
Phoenix Suns
The Suns did exactly what they needed to do to clinch an automatic playoff berth, beating Minnesota in the final game of the regular season while the Pelicans lost to the Lakers. Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker have finally started playing together after injury issues early in the season, which is good news for the Suns. It’s going to be a tough road ahead but there’s plenty of experience and offense on this championship-caliber team.
Los Angeles Lakers
Once again, the Lakers found a way to win the opening play-in game in the 7-8 matchup to secure the No. 7 seed in the West. They’ll be facing the defending champions Nuggets in a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals, but they’ll get some much-needed rest after some tough contests late in the year. With LeBron James and Anthony Davis at the helm, this team has the firepower to make a deep run like it did a year ago.
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans lost to the Lakers to lose out on the seventh seed, but they blew out the Sacramento Kings to earn the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Even without Zion Williamson, the Pelicans got stellar performances from Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas. New Orleans will battle the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.