NBA Playoff Picture 2025: Standings, Bracket Predictions After Thunder vs. Clippers
The Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics all continued their winning ways on Sunday.
All three teams enter the final few weeks of the NBA regular season with little to play for, unless Boston gets closer to Cleveland in the Eastern Conference.
While there isn't much drama at the top, the middle and the bottom of the standings are congested in both conferences.
A team like the Los Angeles Clippers, who barely lost to OKC on Sunday night, could make a swing of two places in just a week. The same can be said about a few different spots because of how the schedule sets up.
Eastern Conference
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Play-In Race
Cleveland ended its four-game losing skid on Sunday with a win over Utah.
The Cavs leave the weekend with a five-game advantage over the Celtics, who also won on Sunday against Portland.
Boston closed the gap to five games during Cleveland’s losing run, but the Celtics might not be able to pick up a lot more ground.
The Celtics are in the middle of a six-game west coast road swing, with the next two games coming against Sacramento and Phoenix, both of whom need wins for their own sake in the Western Conference races.
The Knicks seem like they are in a good place to gain more separation for the No. 3 seed. They play four of the next five at home, including games against Dallas, Portland and Philadelphia.
Indiana has three tough games this week against Minnesota, the Lakers and Oklahoma City, but the Pacers do have the benefit of playing eight of their final 12 at home.
Down in the play-in spots, Miami continued to put pressure on Chicago with a Sunday victory over Charlotte.
After the Heat welcome Jimmy Butler back to south Florida on Monday, they have five total games against the Sixers, Wizards and Pelicans, as well as a head-to-head clash with the Bulls on April 9.
Chicago could lose ground this week with Denver, the Lakers and OKC on the schedule. The Bulls have an easy April ahead, but getting through the next seven days as the No. 9 seed will be tough.
Prediction
Western Conference
2 of 2
Play-In Race
The Clippers missed an opportunity on Sunday night to beat the top team in the West and gain ground in the play-in race.
Instead of coming away with a win over OKC, the Clippers dropped to eighth place, a half-game behind the Timberwolves.
The Wolves and Clippers are chasing Golden State, who ended Sunday with a half-game advantage on Minnesota.
Golden State should win at least two of its next three against San Antonio and New Orleans. A win over the Heat on Monday would be a huge help as well.
Every win is needed for the Warriors, who have to play Memphis, the Lakers, Denver and Houston in a six-day stretch that begins on April 1.
The Clippers, despite losing on Sunday, have a great chance to make waves in the standings in the next few weeks.
James Harden and Co. face Brooklyn, New Orleans and Dallas twice in four of their next seven games.
Minnesota faces Indiana, Phoenix, Detroit and Denver over the next 10 days, so there is a chance for the Clippers to surge up to the No. 6 seed.
Sacramento and Phoenix appear to be safe at Nos. 9 and 10. Dallas is tied on record with Phoenix, but the Mavs are trending in the wrong direction. Portland and San Antonio might not have enough time to catch the Kings and Suns.
However, both the Kings and Suns have tough weeks ahead. The Kings take on Boston, OKC and Portland, while Phoenix goes up against Milwaukee, Boston and Minnesota.
Prediction
