Updated 2025 NBA Playoff Picture, Bracket, Standings and Seed Predictions
Less than two weeks remain in the 2024-25 NBA regular season, yet the league standings remain mostly a jumbled mess.
While a handful of teams have either clinched playoff spots or been eliminated from postseason contention, most have yet to learn their actual fates.
Wouldn't it be nice for them to know if they should get their hopes up or not? You bet it would, and since we happen to be feeling generous, we're here to offer a peek into the future with seed predictions for the 20 teams our crystal ball envisions snagging a playoff or play-in spot.
Updated NBA Standings
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Eastern Conference
1. y-Cleveland Cavaliers: 60-15
2. x-Boston Celtics: 55-19
3. x-New York Knicks: 47-27
4. Indiana Pacers: 43-31
5. Detroit Pistons: 42-33
6. Milwaukee Bucks: 40-34
7. Atlanta Hawks: 36-38
8. Orlando Magic: 36-39
9. Chicago Bulls: 33-41
10. Miami Heat: 33-41
11. Toronto Raptors: 28-47
12. e-Brooklyn Nets: 24-51
13. e-Philadelphia 76ers: 23-52
14. e-Charlotte Hornets: 18-56
15. e-Washington Wizards: 16-58
Western Conference
1. z-Oklahoma City Thunder: 62-12
2. Houston Rockets: 49-26
3. Denver Nuggets: 47-28
4. Los Angeles Lakers: 45-29
5. Memphis Grizzlies: 44-30
6. Golden State Warriors: 43-31
7. Minnesota Timberwolves: 43-32
8. Los Angeles Clippers: 42-32
9. Dallas Mavericks: 37-38
10. Sacramento Kings: 36-38
11. Phoenix Suns: 35-40
12. Portland Trail Blazers: 32-43
13. San Antonio Spurs: 31-43
14. e-New Orleans Pelicans: 21-54
15. e-Utah Jazz: 16-59
*z-clinched conference; y-clinched division; x-clinched playoff berth; e-eliminated from playoff contention
Current Playoff Bracket
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Western Conference
No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 Play-In Winner
No. 2 Houston Rockets vs. No. 7 Play-In Winner
No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Golden State Warriors
No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 5 Memphis Grizzlies
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 8 Play-In Winner
No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Play-In Winner
No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Milwaukee Bucks
No. 4 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 5 Detroit Pistons
Play-In Tournament
Western Conference
No. 7 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 8 Los Angeles Clippers
No. 9 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 10 Sacramento Kings
Eastern Conference
No. 7 Atlanta Hawks vs. No. 8 Orlando Magic
No. 9 Chicago Bulls vs. No. 10 Miami Heat
Seed Predictions
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Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Boston Celtics
3. New York Knicks
4. Indiana Pacers
5. Detroit Pistons
6. Milwaukee Bucks
7. Orlando Magic
8. Atlanta Hawks
9. Miami Heat
10. Chicago Bulls
No, these aren't the most exciting predictions you'll find, as you won't see a difference from the current bracket until getting to the play-in teams. That said, things already feel pretty cemented through the top six seeds.
It would take a monumental collapse from the Cavaliers for the Celtics to catch them. In other words, Boston's red-hot run (eight consecutive wins) may not mean anything so long as Cleveland keeps its head above water. The Knicks, meanwhile, are effectively tiered on their own with at least a four-game gap between the teams directly in front of and behind them.
The fight for the Nos. 4-6 seeds is still up in the air, but it feels notable that the Pacers are the hottest team in that bunch, while the Bucks are the coldest. The clubs are close enough that changes could happen, but our prediction machine isn't buying it.
As for actual changes, the only ones we're spotting are the Magic moving in front of the Hawks, and the Heat jumping clear of the Bulls. Orlando and Atlanta square off two more times in matchups that could decide this, and the Magic's elite defense feels like the difference-maker in those contests. The Heat, meanwhile, have the easier remaining schedule, and they're poised to take advantage of that with Tyler Herro on a...well, heater (28.8 points on 66.7/62.5/94.1 shooting over his last four outings).
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Houston Rockets
3. Denver Nuggets
4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. Golden State Warriors
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
7. Memphis Grizzlies
8. Los Angeles Clippers
9. Sacramento Kings
10. Dallas Mavericks
While we aren't envisioning changes through the top-four seeds, there is a tumble right after that. And it comes courtesy of the reeling Grizzlies, who are the only Western Conference club seeded ninth or better with a losing record over their last 10 contests.
This slippage, of course, just led to the ouster of former coach Taylor Jenkins. While there's always the chance for a team to get a new-coach bump, the timing of this maneuver feels somewhere between risky and reckless. It also feels less than ideal that star guard Ja Morant twice used the word "tough" when describing his reaction to reporters.
The Grizzlies host the Celtics on Monday night and then the Warriors on Tuesday, so if they drop these two (extending their losing streak to four games), they could suddenly be scrambling to avoid the play-in tournament. And with the Timberwolves playing well (11 wins over their last 14), our crystal ball has Memphis bottoming out to the No. 7 seed.
The Clippers could theoretically surpass the Grizzlies, too, but we'll stop Memphis' skid at No. 7, leaving L.A. at No. 8. To close, we have Sacramento climbing to No. 9, Dallas landing at No. 10 and Phoenix finishing its massively disappointing season without so much as a play-in invitation. Brutal.
