NBA Playoff Picture 2024: Nuggets, Thunder Clinch Postseason Spots; Updated Standings

The defending champions are back in the dance.

The Denver Nuggets became the first team in the Western Conference to clinch a playoff berth after Sunday's 130-101 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, moving them to 52-23 on the season.

They weren't the only Western Conference team to celebrate on Sunday, as the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched a postseason spot with a win over the New York Knicks:

The only other team to clinch a playoff berth thus far is the Boston Celtics (58-16), holders of the best record in basketball.

Here are the full NBA standings:

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Eastern Conference

1. Boston Celtics: 58-16*

2. Milwaukee Bucks: 47-27

3. Cleveland Cavaliers: 45-30

4. New York Knicks: 44-30

5. Orlando Magic: 43-31

6. Indiana Pacers: 42-33

-----Automatic Playoff Berth Cutoff-----

7. Miami Heat: 41-33

8. Philadelphia 76ers: 40-35

9. Chicago Bulls: 36-39

10. Atlanta Hawks: 34-40

-----Play-In Tournament Cutoff-----

11. Brooklyn Nets: 29-46

12. Toronto Raptors: 23-51**

13. Charlotte Hornets: 18-56**

14. Washington Wizards: 14-61**

15. Detroit Pistons: 13-61**

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Western Conference

1. Oklahoma City Thunder: 52-22*

2. Denver Nuggets: 52-23*

3. Minnesota Timberwolves: 51-23

4. Los Angeles Clippers: 47-27

5. Dallas Mavericks: 45-29

6. New Orleans Pelicans: 45-29

-----Automatic Playoff Berth Cutoff-----

7. Phoenix Suns: 43-31

8. Sacramento Kings: 42-31

9. Los Angeles Lakers: 42-33

10. Golden State Warriors: 40-34

-----Play-In Tournament Cutoff-----

11. Houston Rockets: 38-36

12. Utah Jazz: 29-45**

13. Memphis Grizzlies: 24-50**

14. Portland Trail Blazers: 19-55**

15. San Antonio Spurs: 18-57**

* Clinched playoff berth

**Eliminated from playoff contention.

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In the East, the main drama is down to the battle for the last two automatic playoff berths and the fight for the No. 2 seed in the postseason. The Celtics have already clinched the top seed, and the Sixers, Bulls and Hawks seem locked in place as the final three play-in tournament sides.

But the West remains wild.

There's a three-team battle for the top overall seed. The red-hot Mavericks—winners of six straight and 10 of their past 11 games—have surged into the final automatic berth, creating a logjam of contenders for that final spot. And the Warriors are desperately trying to hold off the young Rockets for the final play-in berth.

For the Nuggets, home-court advantage would force teams to deal with Denver's altitude up to four times per series. The Nuggets are 30-8 at home this season, a mark bested only by—you guessed it—the Celtics (32-3).

Superstar center Nikola Jokić is making a strong case to win his third MVP award in the past four seasons, meanwhile, averaging 26.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game while shooting 57.9 percent from the field.

Don't sleep on Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić, OKC's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo in that chase, however. Add it to the number of intriguing races around the NBA as the regular season winds to a close.