Celtics Celebrated by NBA Fans as 1st Team to Clinch Playoff Spot After 76ers Loss

The Boston Celtics are the first team in the NBA to clinch a playoff spot.

The Celtics needed a win over the Phoenix Suns and for the Philadelphia 76ers to lose to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday to earn a top-six playoff spot, and they got both. Jaylen Brown dropped 37 points to get past Kevin Durant and the Suns, and now Boston has one fewer thing to worry about this season.

Now, the Celtics have their eyes set on earning the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Sitting 9.5 games ahead of the current No. 2 seed Bucks, Boston should earn the East's top seed barring any major collapse. If the season ended today and the play-in games resulted in the seventh and eighth seeds maintaining their spots, the Celtics would get a first-round matchup against the Miami Heat, who they lost to in the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

The Celtics have been dominant all season, and it's no surprise to see them earn the first playoff spot. After the feat, fans praised Boston for clinching with 16 games remaining on the year.

The Celtics have had an outstanding regular season, but Boston is looking for much more than just the top seed.

After reaching the NBA Finals but coming up short in 2022, the Celtics are looking to return and win it all this year. Boston has leaned on stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown while also getting solid production from Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and others this year.

While anything can happen in the playoffs, it's going to take a lot for any team to beat Boston in a seven-game series.