2025 NBA Playoff Picture, Play-in Standings and Bracket Predictions After April 4

The Golden State Warriors' NBA-best winning streak was extended on Friday night in a potential first-round preview with the Denver Nuggets.

Denver and Golden State are aligned in the No. 4-versus-No. 5 matchup in the Western Conference going into the weekend.

However, the order of teams from third to eighth in the West could change with one single result.

The gap between the Los Angeles Lakers in third and the Memphis Grizzlies in eighth is two games.

The Eastern Conference playoff picture is far less congested. Only two spots could change hands between now and the end of the regular season next Sunday.

Eastern Conference

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1. Cleveland (62-15)
2. Boston (57-20)
3. New York (48-28)
4. Indiana (46-31)
5. Detroit (43-34)
6. Milwaukee (42-34)
7. Orlando (38-40)
8. Atlanta (36-40)
9. Chicago (35-42)
10. Miami (35-42)

The real drama in the East comes from fifth on down.

Detroit inched back ahead of Milwaukee on Friday night with a win over Toronto. The Pistons are now up by a half-game on the Bucks.

The Pistons and Bucks play twice to close out the regular season on Friday and Sunday. Those games will decide who lands the Nos. 5 and 6 seeds.

The No. 5 seed is more enviable for both teams because they would be able to avoid the New York Knicks in the first round.

Milwaukee is 2-0 against Detroit this season, but without Damian Lillard, the Bucks could struggle in a level matchup.

Chicago and Miami are jockeying for the No. 9 seed and the right to host the single-elimination play-in round game between the No. 9 and 10 seeds.

Wednesday's matchup in south Florida could determine the seeding order because both teams have one remaining game versus a team in a playoff spot and three contests left against teams out of the postseason.

Bracket Prediction

Play-In: No. 10 Miami vs. No. 9 Chicago

Play-In: No. 8 Atlanta vs. No. 7 Orlando

No. 8 Atlanta vs. No. 1 Cleveland

No. 7 Orlando vs. No. 2 Boston

No. 6 Detroit vs. No. 3 New York

No. 5 Milwaukee vs. No. 4 Indiana

Western Conference

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1. Oklahoma City (64-13)
2. Houston (51-27)
3. Los Angeles Lakers (47-30)
4. Denver (47-31)
5. Golden State (46-31)
6. Minnesota (45-32)
7. LA Clippers (45-32)
8. Memphis (45-32)
9. Dallas (38-40)
10. Sacramento (37-40)
11. Phoenix (35-42)
12. Portland (34-44)
13. San Antonio (32-45)

Stephen Curry powered the Warriors to their fifth straight win on Friday to get within a half-game of the Nuggets for fourth place.

Golden State closes with Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio, Portland and the LA Clippers. A 3-2 record is the minimum requirement for the Warriors to stay out of the play-in round.

However, with the way the Warriors have played since Jimmy Butler was acquired, it's easy to imagine they would go 5-0 in that stretch.

Denver has one fewer game remaining and all four of those contests are against teams still fighting for something in their respective playoff races.

Both Denver and Golden State could gain ground if they keep winning since the Los Angeles Lakers have two games in a row against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

OKC isn't playing for anything with the top seed wrapped up, but it will still pose a tough test for Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Co.

Minnesota has the ideal path to stay in the top six with three games left versus Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Utah. Like with Golden State, a 3-2 mark might be enough to keep the Wolves in the top six.

Phoenix is in real danger of being eliminated by Wednesday with games ahead against the Knicks, Warriors and Thunder.

That's good news for Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks, who have buffers of two and 2.5 games over the Suns.

Bracket Prediction

Play-In: No. 10 Sacramento vs. No. 9 Dallas

Play-In: No. 8 Memphis vs. No. 7 LA Clippers

No. 8 Memphis vs. No. 1 OKC

No. 7 LA Clippers vs. No. 2 Houston

No. 6 Minnesota vs. No. 3 Golden State

No. 5 Denver vs. No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers