With the NBA regular season entering its final three weeks in 2024-25, the playoff landscape is solidifying. As teams and fans closely monitor the standings, we provide daily updates on the playoff picture leading up to Sunday, April 13.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have secured the Western Conference`s top seed and home-court advantage for at least the first three playoff rounds, approaching 60 wins. In the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers remain ahead of the Boston Celtics for the No. 1 seed, despite a recent slump, maintaining a five-game lead as of Sunday.

While the Thunder`s position is set, the battle for the West`s No. 2 seed is intensifying among the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Memphis Grizzlies, who have been closely ranked since early March.

In the Eastern Conference, the ten likely playoff teams are emerging, with the Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, and Brooklyn Nets seemingly focused on the draft lottery. The Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, and Miami Heat are projected to compete in the East`s play-in tournament in 2025. In the West, the Phoenix Suns are vying for the final playoff spot, needing to fend off the Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers to secure a playoff berth for Kevin Durant and his team.

As of Tuesday, March 25, here’s the 2024-25 NBA playoff outlook.

Who Has Clinched?

  • The Thunder have clinched the No. 1 seed in the West.
  • The Cavaliers have clinched a playoff spot in the East.
  • The Celtics have clinched a playoff spot in the East.

NBA Playoff Picture

Playoff probabilities are based on SportsLine simulations.

Eastern Conference Standings

Rank Team W L GB Playoff Chances
1 Cleveland – x 57 14 — 100%
2 Boston – x 53 19 4.5 100%
3 New York 44 26 12.5 100%
4 Indiana 42 29 15.0 99.5%
5 Milwaukee 40 31 17.0 94.5%
6 Detroit 40 32 17.5 88.9%
7 Atlanta 35 36 22.0 94.6%
8 Orlando 34 38 23.5 66.8%
9 Chicago 32 40 25.5 27.4%
10 Miami 30 41 27.0 27.9%

Western Conference Standings

Rank Team W L GB Playoff Chances
1 Oklahoma City – x 59 12 — 100%
2 Houston 46 26 12.5 99.6%
3 Denver 45 28 14.5 100%
4 L.A. Lakers 43 28 15.0 98.0%
5 Memphis 43 28 15.5 95.9%
6 Golden St. 41 30 17.5 88.7%
7 L.A. Clippers 40 31 18.0 86.8%
8 Minnesota 41 32 18.0 79.8%
9 Sacramento 35 36 23.0 29.6%
10 Phoenix 35 37 24.5 6.7%
11 Dallas 35 37 24.5 12.6%
12 Portland 32 40 26.5 <1.0%
13 San Antonio 31 39 27.5 <1.0%

x = clinched playoff spot

Reminder: The top six teams from each conference secure automatic playoff berths. The remaining four spots are decided via the Play-In Tournament, involving teams ranked 7-10 in each conference. The seventh-ranked team hosts the eighth-ranked team for the No. 7 seed. The loser then plays the winner of the game between the ninth and tenth-ranked teams for the No. 8 seed.

The Eastern Conference`s top six is largely set with the regular season nearing its end, while the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers aim to overtake the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets in the West.

Key Dates for the 2025 NBA Playoffs

  • April 13: Regular Season Final Day
  • April 15-18: Play-In Tournament
  • April 19: Playoffs Begin
  • May 12: NBA Draft Lottery
  • June 5: NBA Finals Begin