Celtics Can Lock Down the 2-Seed Tonight Against the Knicks

Boston's got a shot at securing second place in the Eastern Conference when they roll into Madison Square Garden tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video. The Celtics are that close to clinching, which tells you everything you need to know about where they stand in the hunt. New York is still mathematically alive to finish second, but they'd need to win all three of their remaining games while Boston loses all three of theirs. Spoiler alert: that's not happening.

The East is Shaping Up Quick

There's only six games on the schedule Thursday night, but four of them feature teams headed to the postseason. Beyond the Celtics-Knicks showdown, the real drama in the East might be playing out for sixth place. The Toronto Raptors are hosting Miami at 7 p.m. ET, holding a one-game lead over the Philadelphia 76ers for that sixth seed. Philly's visiting Houston at 8 p.m. ET, so whoever blinks first could be staring down the play-in tournament. That's the gap between a direct path to the playoffs and fighting for your life in May.

Out West, It's a Three-Team Dogfight

The Lakers and Rockets are tied for fourth out West, and ESPN's Basketball Power Index gives those two teams plus the Nuggets nearly equal odds to land that No. 4 seed. JJ Redick's Los Angeles squad heads to Golden State at 10 p.m. ET on Prime Video. That's the kind of game that matters in April, not just because of the standings but because it tells you who's really ready when it counts.

The Thunder can clinch the No. 1 seed in the West and the best overall record in the NBA with a win or if San Antonio loses. Over in the Southeast, Atlanta can clinch a playoff spot and the division title with a victory.

Plenty to watch tonight. Plenty of teams are about to find out exactly where they stand.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.