Celtics clinch top seed in Eastern Conference

The Eastern Conference playoffs will run through Boston.

The Celtics have clinched the top overall seed in the conference when the postseason starts in April. Boston clinched by building an 11-game lead for first place ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks, who have 11 contests left in the regular season.

Boston and Milwaukee meet one last time during the regular season April 9, but the Celtics own a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head matchups. The Celtics secure home-court advantage thanks to a conference record tiebreaker.

The 57-14 Celtics are on track for their best regular season since 2008-09, when they won 62 games. The previous season, Boston captured its first championship since 1986.

The Celtics made two big swings in the offseason to bolster their squad, trading for former All-Stars Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Porzingis is averaging 20.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.8 blocks, while Holiday is averaging 12.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists.

Boston rides a nine-game winning streak into Monday's matchup against the Atlanta Hawks. The Celtics will be without Derrick White due to a hand injury, and Holiday is slated to miss his fifth straight contest. However, Porzingis and Jaylen Brown are off the injury report and available to play after missing Saturday's contest against the Chicago Bulls.