Updated 2025 NBA Playoff Picture, Bracket, Standings After Nuggets Clinch No. 4 Seed
The Denver Nuggets are headed back to the postseason for the seventh straight season after downing the Houston Rockets on the final day of the regular season.
Denver also clinched the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference with Sunday's win.
Here's a glimpse at the NBA's latest Western and Eastern Conference playoff brackets and standings.
Western Conference Bracket
No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14) vs. No. 8 Seed (Determined By Play-in)
No. 2 Houston Rockets (52-30) vs. No. 7 Seed (Determined By Play-in)
No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers (50-32) vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33)
No. 4 Denver Nuggets (50-32) vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers (50-32)
Western Conference Standings
- Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14)
- Houston Rockets (52-30)
- Los Angeles Lakers (50-32)
- Denver Nuggets (50-32)
- Los Angeles Clippers (50-32)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33)
- Golden State Warriors (48-34)
- Memphis Grizzlies (48-34)
- Sacramento Kings (40-42)
- Dallas Mavericks (39-43)
- Phoenix Suns (36-46)
- Portland Trail Blazers (36-46)
- San Antonio Spurs (34-48)
- New Orleans Pelicans (21-60)
- Utah Jazz (17-65)
Eastern Conference Bracket
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18) vs. No. 8 Seed (Determined By Play-in)
No. 2 Boston Celtics (61-21) vs. No. 7 Seed (Determined By Play-in)
No. 3 New York Knicks (51-31) vs. No. 6 Detroit Pistons (44-38)
No. 4 Indiana Pacers (50-32) vs. No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks (48-34)
Eastern Conference Standings
- Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18)
- Boston Celtics (61-21)
- New York Knicks (51-31)
- Indiana Pacers (50-32)
- Milwaukee Bucks (48-34)
- Detroit Pistons (44-38)
- Orlando Magic (41-41)
- Atlanta Hawks (40-42)
- Chicago Bulls (39-43)
- Miami Heat (37-45)
- Toronto Raptors (30-52)
- Brooklyn Nets (26-56)
- Philadelphia 76ers (24-58)
- Charlotte Hornets (19-63)
- Washington Wizards (18-64)
Once again, the Denver Nuggets are led by center Nikola Jokić, a three-time NBA MVP who's in contention for his fourth MVP award. Jokić has been phenomenal once again, and he became just the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double (Oscar Robertson, and then Russell Westbrook four times). He also became the first player in NBA history to post a 30-20-20 game.
In addition, Jokić dropped a 61-point triple-double in a double-overtime game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
With Jokić leading the way, Denver is certainly a serious championship contender, even if the field is loaded this year between two powerhouses (the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers and West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder), the scorching-hot Los Angeles Lakers with LeBron James and Luka Dončić and the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics.
Denver still has its core four from its 2022-23 championship season in Jokić, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. But this year's team has another potent weapon in Westbrook. The Nuggets have also benefitted from the ascendance of third-year forward Christian Braun.
Ultimately, Denver should be a formidable threat and tough out in the playoffs as long as Jokić is leading this team. He's arguably playing his best-ever ball right now, and that could be quite difficult for teams to deal with this spring.
