Updated 2025 NBA Playoff Bracket, Standings After Knicks Clinch Spot

The New York Knicks are returning to the playoffs for the third straight season.

The team clinched its postseason berth on Thursday after the Atlanta Hawks' loss to the Miami Heat.

Here's a look at the updated standings in the Eastern and Western Conference.

Eastern Conference Standings

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (59-14)*

2. Boston Celtics (54-19)*

3. New York Knicks (45-27)*

4. Indiana Pacers (43-30)

5. Detroit Pistons (41-32)

6. Milwaukee Bucks (40-32)

--- End of Automatic Playoff Bids ---

7. Atlanta Hawks (35-38)

8. Orlando Magic (35-39)

9. Chicago Bulls (32-40)

10. Miami Heat (32-41)

--- End of Play-In Tournament Bids ---

11. Toronto Raptors (26-47)

12. Philadelphia 76ers (23-50)

13. Brooklyn Nets (23-50)

14. Charlotte Hornets (18-54)

15. Washington Wizards (16-57)

*Clinched playoff berth

The Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Western Conference Standings

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (60-12)*

2. Houston Rockets (47-26)

3. Denver Nuggets (46-28)

4. Los Angeles Lakers (44-28)

5. Memphis Grizzlies (44-28)

6. Los Angeles Clippers (41-31)

--- End of Automatic Playoff Bids ---

7. Golden State Warriors (41-31)

8. Minnesota Timberwolves (41-32)

9. Dallas Mavericks (36-38)

10. Sacramento Kings (35-37)

--- End of Play-In Tournament Bids ---

11. Phoenix Suns (35-38)

12. Portland Trail Blazers (32-41)

13. San Antonio Spurs (31-41)

14. New Orleans Pelicans (20-53)

15. Utah Jazz (16-57)

*Clinched playoff berth

The New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz have been eliminated from playoff contention.

The Knicks came into the season with huge expectations after adding Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges in blockbuster trades. Those two, paired with Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart, gave the Knicks one of the most talented cores in basketball.

In general, it's been smooth sailing for this bunch, though the team's championship aspirations have been somewhat clouded by an 0-7 record against the three best teams in basketball, the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder.

To win a title, the Knicks will almost assuredly have to go through either the Celtics or Cavaliers—potentially both—and the Thunder may be waiting for them in the NBA Finals.

This is the first season of New York's big four playing together, so there is absolutely room for them to continue growing. On talent alone, not many teams are as loaded as these Knicks. Getting Mitchell Robinson back in the mix in March certainly helped as well given some of the team's surprising defensive struggles.

So the Knicks are more than capable of making noise come the postseason. They just need to learn how to reach their ceiling against the NBA's best teams.