Thunder secure No. 1 seed in Western Conference

With three weeks left in the NBA regular season, the playoff picture is becoming clearer. The Thunder have secured the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and will have home-court advantage through at least the first three rounds. They are close to reaching 60 wins this season. In the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers still hold a five-game lead over the Celtics for the No. 2 position, despite struggling recently. The playoff race in the West remains competitive, with the Rockets, Nuggets, Lakers, and Grizzlies all vying for the No. 2 seed. Most playoff spots in the East are likely filled. The 76ers, Raptors, and Nets seem more focused on securing better draft positions than qualifying for the Play-In Tournament. The Hawks, Magic, Bulls, and Heat are expected to compete for the play-in spots. In the West, the Suns are aiming for the last playoff position and need to fend off the Mavericks and Blazers. As of March 24, the Thunder and both the Cavaliers and Celtics have clinched playoff spots. The NBA playoffs are set to start soon. The last day of the regular season is April 13, followed by the Play-In Tournament from April 15 to 18. The first round of the playoffs begins on April 19. Key events include the NBA Draft Lottery on May 12 and the NBA Finals starting on June 5.