With just over two weeks left in the 2024-25 NBA regular season, the playoff picture is becoming increasingly defined. Fans and teams are closely watching the standings as we approach the final games before the playoffs on Sunday, April 13.
The Thunder have secured the Western Conference`s top seed and home-court advantage for at least the first three playoff rounds. In the East, the Cavaliers, despite recent losses, remain ahead of the No. 2 Celtics by five games as of Sunday.
While the Thunder`s position in the West is set, the battle for the No. 2 seed is still ongoing among the Rockets, Nuggets, Lakers, and Grizzlies, who have been closely ranked since early March. The competition for the No. 6 seed, the last guaranteed playoff spot in the West, is also intense, with the Warriors, Clippers, and Timberwolves vying for it.
In the Eastern Conference, the ten likely playoff teams are emerging, while the 76ers, Raptors, and Nets seem more focused on the draft lottery than the Play-In Tournament. The Hawks, Magic, Bulls, and Heat are expected to be the East`s play-in teams in 2025. In the West, the Suns are aiming for the final playoff spot, needing to fend off the Mavericks and Blazers to give Kevin Durant and his team a playoff opportunity.
Here is the 2024-25 NBA playoff picture as of Thursday, March 27.
Who has clinched a playoff berth?
- 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 Probabilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland – x | 58 | 14 | — | 100% |
| 2 | Boston – x | 54 | 19 | 4.5 | 100% |
| 3 | New York | 45 | 27 | 13.0 | 100% |
| 4 | Indiana | 42 | 30 | 16.0 | 99.5% |
| 5 | Detroit | 41 | 32 | 17.5 | 90.6% |
| 6 | Milwaukee | 40 | 32 | 18.0 | 91.8% |
| — | — | — | — | — | |
| 7 | Atlanta | 35 | 37 | 23.0 | 88.5% |
| 8 | Orlando | 35 | 38 | 23.5 | 76.0% |
| 9 | Chicago | 32 | 40 | 26.0 | 27.0% |
| 10 | Miami | 31 | 41 | 27.0 | 26.6% |
Western Conference Standings
| Rank | Team | W | L | GB | Playoff Probabilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma City – x | 60 | 12 | — | 100% |
| 2 | Houston | 47 | 26 | 13.5 | 100% |
| 3 | Denver | 46 | 28 | 15.0 | 100% |
| 4 | L.A. Lakers | 44 | 28 | 16.0 | 98.2% |
| 5 | Memphis | 44 | 28 | 16.0 | 96.8% |
| 6 | L.A. Clippers | 41 | 31 | 19.0 | 85.2% |
| — | — | — | — | — | |
| 7 | Golden St. | 41 | 31 | 19.0 | 85.1% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 41 | 32 | 19.5 | 83.7% |
| 9 | Sacramento | 35 | 37 | 25.0 | 27.6% |
| 10 | Phoenix | 35 | 38 | 25.5 | 6.2% |
| — | — | — | — | — | |
| 11 | Dallas | 35 | 38 | 25.5 | 15.6% |
x = clinched playoff spot
Reminder: the top six teams from each conference automatically qualify for the 16-team playoffs. The remaining four spots will be decided in the Play-In Tournament featuring teams ranked 7-10 in each conference. The 7th-ranked team hosts the 8th-ranked team for the No. 7 seed. The loser of that game will play the winner of the game between the 9th and 10th ranked teams for the No. 8 seed.
The Eastern Conference`s top six teams are fairly set with only weeks remaining in the regular season, while in the West, the Timberwolves and Clippers aim to overtake the Warriors and Rockets.
Key Dates for the 2025 NBA Playoffs
- April 13: Regular Season Final Day
- April 15-18: Play-In Tournament
- April 19: Playoffs Start
- May 12: NBA Draft Lottery
- June 5: NBA Finals Begin
Jasper Hawthorne