With just more than two weeks remaining in the 2024-25 NBA regular season, we are officially into the stretch run and the league’s playoff picture is taking shape. 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.
The Thunder clinched the West’s No. 1 seed and home-court advantage through at least the first three rounds of the playoffs last week as they’ve already eclipsed 60 wins on the season. The Cavaliers maintain a lead over the No. 2 Celtics in the East — holding steady at five games. The Knicks became the third team in the East to clinch a playoff spot, thanks to the Hawks’ loss on Friday.
While the Thunder’s spot in the West is secure, the race for the No. 2 seed will be worth keeping an eye on for the next few weeks. The Rockets, Nuggets, Lakers and Grizzlies are all fighting for that No. 2 spot and have been bunched up in the standings since early March. The race for No. 6 (the final guaranteed playoff spot) in the West is also kicking into high gear, with the Warriors, Clippers and Timberwolves all eyeing the spot.
In the East, we likely know the 10 teams that are going to make the postseason as the 76ers, Raptors and Nets appear focused on the lottery rather than trying to make the Play-In Tournament. The Hawks, Magic, Bulls and Heat seem destined to be the East’s play-in teams in 2025. In the West, the Suns are trying to get the last postseason spot, and they’ll need to leapfrog the Mavericks or Kings if Kevin Durant and Co. want a chance to make the playoff field.
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Entering play on Friday, March 28, here is the 2024-25 NBA playoff picture.
Who’s clinched?
- The Thunder 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.
- The Knicks have clinched a playoff spot in the East.
NBA playoff picture
Playoff chances are based on SportsLine simulations.
Eastern Conference standings
Western Conference standings
| Rank | Team | W | L | GB | Playoff chances |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma City – x | 61 | 12 | — | 100% |
| 2 | Houston | 48 | 26 | 13.5 | 100% |
| 3 | Denver | 46 | 28 | 15.5 | 100% |
| 4 | L.A. Lakers | 44 | 29 | 17.0 | 97.2% |
| 5 | Memphis | 44 | 29 | 17.0 | 96.6% |
| 6 | L.A. Clippers | 41 | 31 | 19.5 | 85.1% |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | Golden St. | 41 | 31 | 19.5 | 84.7% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 41 | 32 | 20.0 | 84.5% |
| 9 | Sacramento | 36 | 37 | 25.0 | 27.7% |
| 10 | Dallas | 36 | 38 | 25.5 | 18.6% |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | Phoenix | 35 | 38 | 26.0 | 4.5% |
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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