Pistons Clinch No. 1; Rest of Eastern Conference Still in Flux
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With one week left in the regular season, the Detroit Pistons are the only Eastern Conference team locked into a playoff position after securing the No. 1 seed. Detroit wrapped up the top spot even after losing franchise guard Cade Cunningham to a collapsed lung several weeks ago.
The Boston Celtics sit in line for the No. 2 seed but have yet to clinch it. Directly behind them, the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers remain embroiled in the battle for the third and fourth positions, a race that could extend into the weekend.
The Atlanta Hawks, currently fifth, are poised to influence that chase. Atlanta visits New York on Monday, then meets Cleveland in a home-and-home series later in the week—matchups likely to shape first-round pairings.
Further down the standings, the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors are deadlocked for sixth, the final guaranteed playoff berth. Both clubs have four games remaining, leaving little margin for error.
Every result over the coming days carries postseason implications, effectively turning the closing stretch of the schedule into a pre-playoff scramble.
Source: Hoops Wire
