NBA Playoff Picture 2025: Updated Bracket, Standings After Thunder Clinch Spot
The Oklahoma City Thunder clinched a playoff berth with a 118-112 win over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night at TD Garden.
Of course, the 54-11 Thunder, who hold an 11-game lead in the Western Conference over the second-place Denver Nuggets, are on track for much more.
OKC is cruising towards its second straight No. 1 seed and finds itself in a race for the NBA's best record alongside the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers (55-10).
Until we find out who earns homecourt advantage throughout the entire playoffs, here's a look at the updated bracket and standings through March 12.
Western Conference Bracket
No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder (54-12) vs. No. 8 Seed (Determined By Play-in)
No. 2 Denver Nuggets (42-23) vs. No. 7 Seed (Determined By Play-in)
No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers (40-23) vs. No. 6 Golden State Warriors (37-28)
No. 4 Memphis Grizzlies (41-24) vs. No. 5 Houston Rockets (40-25)
Western Conference Standings
- Oklahoma City Thunder (54-12)
- Denver Nuggets (42-23)
- Los Angeles Lakers (40-23)
- Memphis Grizzlies (41-24)
- Houston Rockets (40-25)
- Golden State Warriors (37-28)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (37-29)
- Los Angeles Clippers (35-30)
- Sacramento Kings (33-31)
- Dallas Mavericks (33-33)
- Phoenix Suns (30-25)
- Portland Trail Blazers (28-38)
- San Antonio Spurs (26-37)
- New Orleans Pelicans (18-48)
- Utah Jazz (15-50)
Eastern Conference Bracket
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers (55-10) vs. No. 8 Seed (Determined By Play-in)
No. 2 Boston Celtics (47-19) vs. No. 7 Seed (Determined By Play-in)
No. 3 New York Knicks (41-23) vs. No. 6 Detroit Pistons (37-29)
No. 4 Milwaukee Bucks (36-28) vs. No. 5 Indiana Pacers (36-28)
Eastern Conference Standings
- Cleveland Cavaliers (55-10)
- Boston Celtics (47-19)
- New York Knicks (41-23)
- Milwaukee Bucks (36-28)
- Indiana Pacers (36-28)
- Detroit Pistons (37-29)
- Atlanta Hawks (31-34)
- Orlando Magic (30-36)
- Miami Heat (29-35)
- Chicago Bulls (27-38)
- Toronto Raptors (23-43)
- Brooklyn Nets (22-43)
- Philadelphia 76ers (22-43)
- Charlotte Hornets (16-48)
- Washington Wizards (13-51)
OKC started the season on fire with seven straight wins and never looked back. The Thunder have only had one losing streak all year, and it was a quick two-gamer in November immediately followed by 19 wins in 20 contests.
The catalyst for OKC's tremendous season is NBA MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging an NBA-high 32.7 points per game. The 26-year-old, one of the game's brightest stars, has now posted at least 30 PPG in each of his last three seasons. He's helped accelerate the Thunder's tremendous rebuild after the team started anew earlier this decade.
However, the Thunder's tremendous depth and offseason acquisitions have played a part as well. Forward Jalen Williams, a 23-year-old forward, earned his first All-Star Game bid, getting the job done in his third NBA season.
Big man Chet Holmgren missed 39 games with a hip fracture, but he's back and faring quite well. In his sixth game back, Holmgren dropped 22 points and 17 rebounds in a 129-121 win over the Brooklyn Nets.
Big man Isaiah Hartenstein has filled the void sans Holmgren and averaged a double-double. Steady veteran guard Alex Caruso has been as advertised, excelling on both ends and boosting a great second unit.
The team has benefitted from good three-point shooting (e.g. Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, Lu Dort) and tremendous defense (e.g. Cason Wallace). The Thunder notably have the NBA's top defense at No. 1 in efficiency, per Basketball-Reference.
All that leads to a legitimate NBA title contender that could very well give the franchise an NBA championship.
