2025 NBA playoff picture: Standings, projections as Lakers, Nuggets, more jostle for West’s No. 2 seed
With less than one month remaining in the 2024-25 NBA regular season, we are officially into the stretch run. Just about every team and fan is paying attention to the standings at this point, and we’re going to be bringing you the most updated picture of where everything stands, every day, from now until the close of play on Sunday, April 13.
Though it’s not official, the top seed is more or less locked in each conference. The Thunder, who clinched a playoff spot last week in Boston, can secure the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference on Thursday if the Lakers lose to the Bucks. Meanwhile, the Nuggets, Rockets, Grizzlies, and aforementioned Lakers are still battling for the No. 2 seed. Despite a three-game skid, the Cavaliers still own a six-game lead over the No. 2 Celtics in the East with fewer than 15 games to play.
Boston clinched a playoff spot last week, still holds a comfortable lead over the No. 3 Knicks and is pretty locked into the East’s No. 2 seed. After that, almost everything is up for grabs as seed jockeying — both above and below the play-in line — figures to go down to the wire.
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Entering play on Thursday, March 20, here is the 2024-25 NBA playoff picture.
Who’s clinched?
- The Cavaliers have clinched the division title in the East.
- The Celtics have clinched a playoff spot in the East.
- The Thunder have clinched a playoff spot in the West.
NBA playoff picture
Playoff chances are based on SportsLine simulations.
Eastern Conference standings
| Rank | Team | W | L | GB | Playoff chances |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland – x | 56 | 13 | — | 100% |
| 2 | Boston – x | 50 | 19 | 6.0 | 100% |
| 3 | New York | 43 | 25 | 12.5 | 100% |
| 4 | Indiana | 39 | 29 | 16.5 | 98.9% |
| 5 | Milwaukee | 38 | 30 | 17.5 | 87.6% |
| 6 | Detroit | 39 | 31 | 17.5 | 91.0% |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | Atlanta | 33 | 36 | 23.0 | 87.0% |
| 8 | Orlando | 32 | 38 | 24.5 | 72.0% |
| 9 | Chicago | 29 | 40 | 27.0 | 28.7% |
| 10 | Miami | 29 | 40 | 27.0 | 33.1% |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | Toronto | 24 | 45 | 32.0 | <1.0% |
| 12 | Brooklyn | 23 | 46 | 33.0 | <1.0% |
| 13 | Philadelphia | 23 | 46 | 33.0 | 1.3% |
Western Conference standings
| Rank | Team | W | L | GB | Playoff chances |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma City – x | 57 | 12 | — | 100% |
| 2 | Houston | 45 | 25 | 12.5 | 99.4% |
| 3 | L.A. Lakers | 43 | 25 | 13.5 | 91.1% |
| 4 | Denver | 44 | 26 | 13.5 | 100.0% |
| 5 | Memphis | 43 | 27 | 14.5 | 96.6% |
| 6 | Golden St. | 40 | 29 | 17.0 | 91.7% |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | L.A. Clippers | 39 | 30 | 18.0 | 77.7% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 40 | 31 | 18.0 | 85.3% |
| 9 | Sacramento | 35 | 33 | 21.5 | 32.6% |
| 10 | Phoenix | 33 | 37 | 24.5 | 9.0% |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | Dallas | 33 | 37 | 24.5 | 6.4% |
| 12 | Portland | 31 | 39 | 26.5 | 1.3% |
x = clinched playoff spot
As a reminder: the top six teams in each conference automatically get spots in the 16-team playoff field. The final four playoff spots will be determined by the Play-In Tournament, which will feature Nos. 7-10 in each conference. The seventh-place team hosts the eight-place team to earn the No. 7 seed. The loser of that game will face the winner of a game between the ninth- and 10th-place teams for the No. 8 seed.
The East has developed a clear top six with just a few weeks remaining in the regular season, while the Timberwolves and Clippers will hope to track down the Warriors and Rockets in the West.
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
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