The Boston Celtics locked in a playoff spot with their win over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday, becoming the second Eastern Conference team to do so after the Pistons.
Jayson Tatum delivered a strong performance for the short-handed Celtics, finishing with 32 points and eight assists in 31 minutes.
In the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers were officially secured into play-in positions after the Houston Rockets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans.
It marks Golden State’s third straight play-in appearance and fourth in the last six seasons.
“I’m sick of the play-in,” Draymond Green said recently. “It seems like we’re a play-in magnet. It sucks, but it’s great when you want an opportunity to get into the playoffs. And that is the reality for us.”
The Warriors sit 10th in the West but remain within reach of moving up before the regular season ends.
The Blazers, meanwhile, are 1.5 games behind the Clippers after their win over the Wizards and could reach the playoffs for the first time since 2021 if they advance through the play-in.
The New York Knicks missed a chance to clinch their spot, losing 111-100 to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
They now lead the Cavaliers by just 1.5 games in the race for the No. 3 seed in the East.
It's on to the first round for the Celtics: https://t.co/d3JBEE8rrx pic.twitter.com/zDYxo9xU9p
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) March 30, 2026
