The 2025 NBA playoff bracket is almost finalized, with seven seeds in the Western Conference still to be decided on Sunday. Today is the final day of the 2024-25 regular season for all 30 teams, and much is at stake. The Nuggets, Clippers, Warriors, and Timberwolves all control their path to a top-six seed and a guaranteed playoff spot in the Western Conference. A crucial game today features the Warriors against the Clippers.
The Eastern Conference playoff situation is already set. Following the Pacers` loss to the Magic and the Bucks` victory over the Pistons on Friday night, all 10 Eastern Conference playoff/play-in seeds and first-round matchups are determined. The first round will see Knicks vs. Pistons and Pacers vs. Bucks. The top-seeded Cavaliers and No. 2 Celtics await the teams emerging from the Play-In Tournament: Magic, Hawks, Bulls, and Heat.
Let`s examine the current standings and scenarios for today`s games.
Who`s Clinched?
- East seeds 1-6 are set: Cavaliers, Celtics, Knicks, Pacers, Bucks, and Pistons.
- The Thunder, Rockets, and Lakers have clinched the top three seeds in the West.
- The Magic, Hawks, Bulls, and Heat are in the East Play-In Tournament.
- The Grizzlies, Kings, and Mavericks are in the West Play-In Tournament.
What`s at Stake Today?
(All tiebreakers are explained here.)
- The Nuggets clinch the No. 4 seed with a win against the Rockets.
- The Clippers clinch a top-five seed with a win against the Warriors.
- The Warriors clinch the No. 6 seed with a win against the Clippers.
- The Timberwolves clinch a top-six seed with a win against the Jazz.
- The Kings clinch the No. 9 seed with a win against the Suns or a Mavericks loss.
- The Mavericks clinch the No. 9 seed with a win against the Grizzlies and a Kings loss.
2025 NBA Playoff Bracket
East First-Round Matchups
- No. 1 Cavaliers vs. No. 8 Magic/Hawks/Bulls/Heat
- No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 Magic/Hawks
- No. 3 Knicks vs. No. 6 Pistons
- No. 4 Pacers vs. No. 5 Bucks
West First-Round Matchups
*Entering Sunday`s games…
No. 1 Thunder vs. No. 8 Timberwolves/Grizzlies/Kings/Mavericks
No. 2 Rockets vs. No. 7 Timberwolves/Grizzlies
No. 3 Lakers vs. No. 6 Warriors
No. 4 Nuggets vs. No. 5 Clippers
Entering the final day of the regular season, here are the 2024-25 NBA standings.
Eastern Conference Standings
| Rank | Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland – x | 64 | 17 | — |
| 2 | Boston – x | 60 | 21 | 4.0 |
| 3 | New York – x | 50 | 31 | 13.0 |
| 4 | Indiana – x | 49 | 32 | 14.0 |
| 5 | Milwaukee – x | 47 | 34 | 17.0 |
| 6 | Detroit – x | 44 | 37 | 19.0 |
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | Orlando | 41 | 40 | 23.0 |
| 8 | Atlanta | 39 | 42 | 25.0 |
| 9 | Chicago | 38 | 43 | 26.0 |
| 10 | Miami | 37 | 44 | 27.0 |
Western Conference Standings
| Rank | Team | W | L | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma City – x | 67 | 14 | — |
| 2 | Houston – x | 52 | 29 | 13.0 |
| 3 | L.A. Lakers – x | 50 | 31 | 17.0 |
| 4 | Denver | 49 | 32 | 18.0 |
| 5 | L.A. Clippers | 49 | 32 | 18.0 |
| 6 | Golden St. | 48 | 33 | 19.0 |
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | Minnesota | 48 | 33 | 19.0 |
| 8 | Memphis | 47 | 34 | 19.0 |
| 9 | Sacramento | 39 | 42 | 27.0 |
| 10 | Dallas | 39 | 42 | 28.0 |
x = clinched playoff spot
As a reminder: the top six teams in each conference automatically qualify for the 16-team playoffs. The final four playoff spots will be decided through the Play-In Tournament, featuring teams ranked 7-10 in each conference. The 7th-place team hosts the 8th-place team for the No. 7 seed. The loser then plays the winner of the 9th vs. 10th place game for the No. 8 seed.
Tiebreakers
Here`s how NBA playoff tiebreakers are applied:
And here`s a list of who currently holds key tiebreakers:
- The Nuggets have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Warriors.
- The Clippers have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Warriors and Grizzlies.
- The Grizzlies have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Timberwolves.
- The Warriors have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Timberwolves and Grizzlies.
- The Timberwolves have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Nuggets and Clippers.
- The Kings have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Mavericks.
2025 NBA Playoffs: Key Dates
- April 13: Final day of regular season
- April 15-18: Play-In Tournament
- April 19: Playoffs begin
- May 12: NBA Draft Lottery
- June 5: NBA Finals begin
Jasper Hawthorne