With the NBA All-Star Break behind us, the 2024 NBA Playoff race is heating up, with Seeds 7-10 competing in the NBA Play-in Tournament to advance to the first round of the playoffs. In the Eastern Conference, the current standings show the Boston Celtics in the top spot, followed by the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers. The Brooklyn Nets are close behind in the hunt for a playoff spot. If the season ended today, the Eastern Conference playoff matchups would feature the Celtics against the play-in winner, the Bucks against the play-in winner, the Cavaliers against the Pacers, and the Magic against the Knicks.
In the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets currently hold the top seed, followed closely by the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The LA Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns round out the current playoff picture, with the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors still in contention for a spot. The potential playoff matchups in the Western Conference would see the Nuggets facing the play-in winner, the Timberwolves against the play-in winner, the Thunder against the Pelicans, and the Clippers against the Mavericks.
The NBA Play-In Tournament standings show the Miami Heat facing the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference play-in, while the Chicago Bulls take on the Atlanta Hawks for a chance to advance to the playoffs. In the Western Conference play-in, the Sacramento Kings will play the Phoenix Suns, and the Los Angeles Lakers will go up against the Golden State Warriors. These matchups will determine the final two seeds in each conference before the playoffs begin.
The 2024 NBA Playoffs Schedule includes the play-in tournament from April 16-19, with games airing on ESPN and TNT. The first round of the playoffs will begin on April 20, with games broadcast on ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV. The conference semifinals are set to start on May 6-7, followed by the conference finals on May 21-22. The NBA Finals are scheduled to begin on June 6 and will be broadcast on ABC.
In total, sixteen teams make the NBA playoffs, with eight teams from both the Eastern and Western Conference advancing based on their regular season records. The top six seeds in each conference secure their spots outright, while the final two spots are determined by the NBA Play-In Tournament. Fans can stay up to date with the latest standings, news, and information about their favorite teams by following the National Basketball Association on their respective platforms.
As the regular season winds down and the playoff race intensifies, fans can expect plenty of exciting matchups and moments as teams jockey for position and a chance to compete for the NBA championship. The NBA Play-In Tournament adds an extra layer of drama to the postseason, giving teams on the fringes of the playoff picture a chance to secure their spots and make a run for the title. With star players and competitive teams across the league, the 2024 NBA Playoffs are shaping up to be a thrilling and unpredictable event for basketball fans around the world.
