Eastern Conference Playoffs Finalized with 10 Teams Locked In

The Eastern Conference postseason field is officially set with 10 teams securing their spots. The Detroit Pistons sit as the No. 1 seed, while the Boston Celtics hold the No. 2 seed. The New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers round out the top four. The Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, and Philadelphia 76ers make up the next tier. The Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, and Miami Heat complete the 10-team field.

The 76ers will host the Magic in the first round of the Play-In Tournament. The winner will earn the No. 7 seed and face the Celtics in the first round. The loser will play the winner of the second Play-In Game, which will be held at the Hornets’ home court against the Heat. The winner of that game will take the No. 8 seed and face the Pistons.

The 76ers finished the regular season with a 44-38 record, earning them the No. 7 seed. The Magic, with a 41-41 record, secured the No. 8 seed. The Hornets and Heat both finished with 39-43 records, but the Hornets captured the No. 9 seed due to tiebreakers. The Heat will have to fight for the final playoff spot in a do-or-die matchup.

The first-round series have also been set. The Knicks, holding the No. 5 seed with a 48-34 record, will host the Hawks, who finished 42-40. The Cavaliers, the No. 6 seed with a 47-35 record, will host the Raptors, who finished 41-41.

The 76ers and Magic game will be the first of the Play-In Tournament, scheduled for April 15. The winner will advance to face the Celtics, who posted the second-best record in the East at 54-28. The Pistons, with a 53-29 record, will host the second Play-In winner in the first round.

The 2023-24 NBA playoffs in the East are shaping up to be competitive. The top four seeds have all posted winning records, while the lower seeds will look to make upsets. With the matchups set, fans can now focus on the action that will determine the conference champion.