NBA playoffs approaching, Western teams compete for seeding

The 2024-25 NBA regular season is winding down, with less than a month left. Teams and fans are closely watching the standings as the playoff races heat up. The playoffs will begin on April 19. In the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers have secured the top seed. They are well ahead of the second-place Celtics, who recently clinched a playoff spot by defeating the Heat. The third-place Knicks are trailing behind. The Western Conference is more competitive. The Thunder have clinched their playoff spot, but there is tight competition for the No. 2 seed among four teams: the Nuggets, Rockets, Lakers, and Grizzlies. The playoff format includes the top six teams in each conference automatically qualifying, while the last four spots will be filled through a Play-In Tournament. This tournament will feature the teams finishing in seventh to tenth place. Important dates to remember include April 13 for the final regular season games, April 15-18 for the Play-In Tournament, and the start of the playoffs on April 19. The NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled for May 12, followed by the NBA Finals beginning on June 5.