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NBA playoff picture: Thunder clinch No. 1 seed in West; Suns, Pacers secure final bid in each conference

By Sean Leahy,Jason Owens, Yahoo Sports

Dallas Mavericks v Oklahoma City Thunder OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 14: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at Paycom Center on April 14, 2024 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) (Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)

By Sean Leahy,Jason Owens, Yahoo Sports

The 2023-24 NBA regular season has come to an end, and we now know the six playoff teams in each conference, as well as the four teams vying in the play-in tournament for the final two seeds in the Eastern and Western Conference.

The Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and Indiana Pacers have secured the six playoff spots in the East.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns will take part in the first round in the West.

In the East play-in tournament, the Philadelphia 76ers will face the Miami Heat, and the Chicago Bulls will take on the Atlanta Hawks. The West will see the Los Angeles Lakers face the New Orleans Pelicans and the Sacramento Kings meet the Golden State Warriors in the play-in.

The play-in tournament will take place between April 16-19, and the First Round of the 2024 NBA playoffs will begin on April 20.

Thunder win 3-way battle for West No. 1 seed

The matchups were finalized Sunday on the final day of the regular season with playoff positioning at stake across the board. The Thunder prevailed in a three-way race for the No. 1 seed in the West with a 135-86 blowout of a Mavericks team with nothing to play for combined with a Timberwolves loss to Suns. The Nuggets secured the No. 2 seed thanks to a win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

With its win over Minnesota, Phoenix moved up to the No. 6 seed and the final guaranteed playoff spot in the West. The Pelicans were in control of the No. 6 seed entering Sunday, but fell into the play-in with a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Pelicans and Lakers will now meet in the play-in.

In the East, the Knicks overtook the Milwaukee Bucks for the No. 2 seed with an overtime win over the Bulls. The Bucks fell to the No. 3 seed with a loss to the Magic, who secured the No. 5 seed. The Pacers blew out the Hawks, clinching the conference's final guaranteed playoff spot, relegating the 76ers and Heat to the play-in.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Boston Celtics2. New York Knicks3. Milwaukee Bucks4. Cleveland Cavaliers5. Orlando Magic6. Indiana Pacers

Play-in 7. Philadelphia 76ers8. Miami Heat9. Chicago Bulls10. Atlanta Hawks

First-round matchups

No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 seed (Secondary play-in winner)

No. 2 New York Knicks vs. No. 7 seed (76ers-Heat winner)

No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 6 Indiana Pacers

No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Orlando Magic

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Oklahoma City Thunder2. Denver Nuggets3. Minnesota Timberwolves4. Los Angeles Clippers 5. Dallas Mavericks 6. Phoenix Suns

Play-in7. New Orleans Pelicans8. Los Angeles Lakers 9. Sacramento Kings10. Golden State Warriors

First-round matchups

No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 seed (secondary play-in winner)

No. 2 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 7 (Pelicans-Lakers winner)

No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 6 Phoenix Suns

No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 Dallas Mavericks

2024 NBA Finals schedule

Thursday, June 6: Game 1Sunday, June 9: Game 2Wednesday, June 12: Game 3Friday, June 14: Game 4Monday, June 17: Game 5 (if necessary)Thursday, June 20: Game 6 (if necessary)Sunday, June 23: Game 7 (if necessary)

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