Updated 2025 NBA Playoff Bracket Picture, Standings, Clinch Scenarios and Predictions

The 2024-25 NBA regular season schedule is dwindling, yet this league remains unpredictable.

And the standings reflect as much.

Wednesday's nine-game slate delivered several eye-opening results, like the Miami Heat staying hot in their 21-point throttling of the Boston Celtics, the Victor Wembanyama-less, De'Aaron Fox-less San Antonio Spurs taking down the (admittedly also shorthanded) Denver Nuggets and the Washington Wizards tripping up the Sacramento Kings.

Miami's win left open the possibility of the team climbing up from the Eastern Conference's No. 9 seed. Denver's loss, meanwhile, dropped it behind the now third-seeded Los Angeles Lakers.

So much must still be sorted out between now and the campaign's April 13 cutoff, as nearly every race remains too close to call. Still, we'll take stock of the current league standings and playoff bracket before closing with predictions for the final seedings.

Updated NBA Standings

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Eastern Conference

1. y-Cleveland Cavaliers: 61-15

2. y-Boston Celtics: 56-20

3. x-New York Knicks: 48-28

4. x-Indiana Pacers: 45-31

5. Detroit Pistons: 42-34

6. Milwaukee Bucks: 41-34

7. Orlando Magic: 37-40

8. Atlanta Hawks: 36-40

9. Miami Heat: 35-41

10. pb-Chicago Bulls: 34-42

11. e-Toronto Raptors: 28-48

12. e-Brooklyn Nets: 25-51

13. e-Philadelphia 76ers: 23-53

14. e-Charlotte Hornets: 19-57

15. e-Washington Wizards: 17-59

Western Conference

1. z-Oklahoma City Thunder: 64-12

2. y-Houston Rockets: 50-27

3. Los Angeles Lakers: 46-29

4. Denver Nuggets: 47-30

5. Golden State Warriors: 44-31

6. Minnesota Timberwolves: 44-32

7. Los Angeles Clippers: 44-32

8. Memphis Grizzlies: 44-32

9. Dallas Mavericks: 38-39

10. Sacramento Kings: 36-40

11. Phoenix Suns: 35-41

12. Portland Trail Blazers: 33-43

13. San Antonio Spurs: 32-44

14. e-New Orleans Pelicans: 21-55

15. e-Utah Jazz: 16-60

*z-clinched conference; y-clinched division; x-clinched playoff berth; pb-clinched play-in berth; e-eliminated from playoff contention

Latest 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 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves

No. 4 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 5 Golden State Warriors

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 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies

No. 9 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 10 Sacramento Kings

Eastern Conference

No. 7 Orlando Magic vs. No. 8 Atlanta Hawks

No. 9 Miami Heat vs. No. 10 Chicago Bulls

Clinching Predictions

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While much more has been cemented in the Eastern Conference, that's actually where our crystal ball envisions the most movement going forward.

Not to be overblown by recency bias, but the Bucks' shooting a ridiculous 68.9 percent their last time out felt like a wake-up call. This team has generally underperformed this season, but it still boasts championship experience within its core and arguably the conference's best player in Giannis Antetokounmpo.

That should be enough to close the half-game gap between them and the ascending-but-inexperienced Pistons.

Elsewhere, we see the Heat continuing to elevate and eventually push themselves all the way into the No. 7 spot. We then have the Magic finishing at No. 8 and the Hawks landing at No. 9.

Out West, the current iteration of the playoff bracket feels close to our final prediction. It feels like the biggest move may have already happened, as Memphis likely reached rock-bottom now that it has fallen into the No. 8 spot. There's nothing about their play or that of the Warriors, Wolves and Clippers to think the Grizzlies can recover from this over the next week-plus.

As for changes in the bracket, we think the Nuggets can find a way to wrestle back control of the No. 3 seed with the Lakers finishing right behind at No. 4. Otherwise, the West's postseason participants will finish in the same places they occupy now.