The LA Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves have secured direct tickets to the NBA play-offs after a thrilling regular season finale.
Both teams won crucial games on Sunday, ensuring they avoided the unpredictability of the play-in tournament.
Clippers, Timberwolves secure direct tickets as Warriors drop into play-ins
Although the Clippers have never reached an NBA Finals, they now face defending champions Denver Nuggets in the first round. Interestingly, the Nuggets had already sealed their play-off spot but defeated Houston Rockets 126-111 to finish fourth.
Meanwhile, the Clippers needed overtime to overcome the Golden State Warriors 124-119, with James Harden dropping 39 points, including 12 in OT. As a result, the Warriors slipped into the play-ins and will now have to fight for a play-off spot.
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On the other hand, Anthony Edwards exploded with 43 points as Minnesota beat the Utah Jazz 116-105 to secure sixth. Therefore, the Timberwolves will take on the seventh-placed Los Angeles Lakers in what promises to be a thrilling showdown.
In the Eastern Conference, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, and New York Knicks all secured direct qualification. However, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and Chicago Bulls must battle through the play-ins.
The Western Conference also delivered surprises as Oklahoma City Thunder finished top, followed by the Lakers, Timberwolves, Nuggets, and Clippers. Yet, powerhouse teams like the Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, and Sacramento Kings must survive the play-ins.
Play-in mechanics and finals schedule: Everything you need to know
For clarity, the play-ins feature teams that placed seventh to tenth in the standings. The seventh and eighth-placed teams face off first, with the winner moving into the main play-offs as the seventh seed. However, the loser gets a second chance against the winner of the ninth vs. tenth match.
As a result, one team from each conference will qualify through this route, bringing the total number of play-off teams to eight per side. Then, the play-offs follow a best-of-seven format, from the first round to the conference finals.
Eventually, the two conference champions will meet in the 2025 NBA Finals, where history will be made once again. While the play-ins run from April 16 to 19, the main play-offs begin on April 19 and continue till June 2.
The NBA Finals are scheduled to tip off on June 5, with subsequent games spaced three days apart. If the series stretches to seven games, the decider will take place on June 22.
Clearly, with elite teams, fierce rivalries, and high stakes, the NBA post-season promises fireworks once again.
Tags: NBA play-offs, LA Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, post-season, play-in, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, Western Conference, Eastern Conference, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks.
