With the NBA playoffs tipping off on Saturday, a fresh batch of teams are set to embark on their quest to win a championship. Included are some mainstays while there are a few recent newcomers also in the mix this year.
By clinching the No. 2 seed this year, the Boston Celtics extended their consecutive playoff run to eight seasons, which is the longest active streak in the NBA. Behind the Celtics are the Milwaukee Bucks and Utah Jazz (six) while the Philadelphia 76ers are next at five seasons.
Meanwhile, a few teams snapped some postseason droughts.
Of course, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in the play-in tournament to claim the seventh seed. With the win, the Timberwolves qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2018. It is just their second appearance since the 2003-04 season.
The New Orleans Pelicans snapped their three-season playoff drought on Friday by defeating the Clippers to secure the eighth seed in the Western Conference. They overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat L.A. on the road.
With Minnesota and New Orleans back in the playoffs, Rookie Wire took a look at the longest current postseason droughts in the NBA.