Story by
Cleveland Cavs clinch NBA playoffs spot with 20 games left in regular season
- Story by
- Cleveland Cavs clinch NBA playoffs spot with 20 games left in regular season
CLEVELAND — It was a foregone conclusion a long time ago, but it's now official: the Cavaliers have their place in the 2024-25 NBA playoffs .
The Cavs clinched at least a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference with Wednesday night's 112-1107 win over the Miami Heat . Cleveland is the first team to secure at least a top-six seed. The Oklahoma City Thunder , in the West, are the only other team to clinch at-least a spot in the play-in tournament.
Advertisement
The play-in tournament includes the 7-10 seeds, who play each other to determine the No. 7 and No. 8 spots in the bracket.
The 2024-25 Cavs have had a historic season . In Kenny Atkinson's first season as Cavs coach , the team won its first 15 games of the season, a franchise record. They also became the first team in franchise history to start the season by winning 50 of their first 60 games. The franchise record for wins in a single season is 66 by the 2008-09 LeBron James-led squad.
The Cavs are in line to hold the No. 1 seed in the East, with the Boston Celtics , who ended Cleveland's playoff run last year , likely to secure the No. 2 spot, setting up a potential heavyweight match in the conference finals if both teams advance.
When do the NBA playoffs begin?
The first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs will start on Saturday, April 19.
Advertisement
When are the 2025 NBA Finals?
Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals will be Thursday, June 5.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavaliers clinch playoff spot in 2025 NBA postseason
