NBA Playoff Picture 2024: Timberwolves Clinch Postseason Berth; Updated Standings

The Minnesota Timberwolves may have been the NBA's big winner on Monday night.

And that's quite the achievement considering they weren't among 12 teams in action.

But when the final buzzer sounded on the Phoenix Suns' 124-111 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, that outcome made Minnesota the third team in the Western Conference to clinch a playoff berth. That means for the first time in three seasons, the Timberwolves have reached the postseason without needing to claw their way out of the play-in tournament.

Speaking of the play-in, that Suns-Pels game could loom large in the race for one of the West's remaining top-six seeds. Before digging too deep into it, though, let's update the league standings with Monday's results.

Eastern Conference

1. z-Boston Celtics: 59-16

2. Milwaukee Bucks: 47-27

3. Cleveland Cavaliers: 45-30

4. New York Knicks: 44-30

5. Orlando Magic: 44-31

6. Indiana Pacers: 43-33

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

7. Miami Heat: 41-33

8. Philadelphia 76ers: 40-35

9. pb-Chicago Bulls: 36-40

10. Atlanta Hawks: 35-40

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

11. Brooklyn Nets: 29-47

12. e-Toronto Raptors: 23-51

13. e-Charlotte Hornets: 18-57

14. e-Washington Wizards: 14-61

15. e-Detroit Pistons: 13-62

Western Conference

1. x-Oklahoma City Thunder: 52-22

2. x-Denver Nuggets: 52-23

3. x-Minnesota Timberwolves: 51-23

4. Los Angeles Clippers: 47-27

5. Dallas Mavericks: 45-29

6. New Orleans Pelicans: 45-30

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

7. Phoenix Suns: 44-31

8. Sacramento Kings: 43-31

9. Los Angeles Lakers: 42-33

10. Golden State Warriors: 40-34

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

11. Houston Rockets: 38-36

12. e-Utah Jazz: 29-46

13. e-Memphis Grizzlies: 25-50

14. e-Portland Trail Blazers: 19-56

15. e-San Antonio Spurs: 18-57

*z-clinched conference; x-clinched playoff berth; pb-clinched play-in berth; e-eliminated from playoff contention

If the Bucks have built enough of a cushion to hang onto the No. 2 seed, the biggest remaining drama in the East exists between seed Nos. 3 and 7.

Those five teams are separated by a total of just 3.5 games, meaning one final stumble or win streak could be the deciding factor. And given what's at stake, you have to assume all of these clubs will be going full-throttle toward the finish line.

Snag the third or fourth seed, and you're hosting a first-round series. Land in the seventh spot, and you're hosting a play-in game.

That's what made Monday's wins for the Magic and Pacers—seeded fifth and sixth, respectively, for now—so important. But while Orlando was busy squeaking out a win over the tanking Trail Blazers, Indiana was zipping its way to a 22-point triumph over the Nets, keyed by a 27-point, 13-assist double-double from All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton.

The Pacers, who made a massive move for Pascal Siakam in January, have eight wins to show for their last 12 trips to the hardwood. If Indiana can keep this up, it has a real chance to not only escape the play-in, but potentially play its way into a top-four seed.

Out West, the standings are basically bunched up everywhere you look. The biggest gap between any of the seed lines Nos. 1 through 11 is the four-game cushion the third-seeded Timberwolves have on the fourth-seeded Clippers. Otherwise, no one else is more than two games clear of the team directly behind them.

That includes the sixth-seeded Pelicans, who now reside just a single game over the seventh-seeded Suns following Monday's collision. Phoenix sprinted out to an 18-point advantage after the first frame and led by as many as 27 points before cruising to a 13-point victory.

For the second time this season, the Pels had no answers for Suns star guard Devin Booker, who popped for 52 points—identical to his total from the last time he faced them in mid-January. This time around, Booker converted 19-of-28 field goals and 8-of-16 threes while narrowly missing a double-double by also posting nine assists in his 39 minutes.

The Suns still face the toughest remaining schedule (by far), but Monday's victory was potentially massive for their hopes of snagging a top-six seed. The Pelicans, meanwhile, lost for the third time in six games since losing Brandon Ingram to a bone contusion in his left knee.

This race should be tremendous down the stretch, just like all the rest in the West.