Latest 2025 NBA Playoff Standings, Bracket Scenarios, Records, Postseason Predictions
The NBA has finally found clarity with the Eastern Conference side of the playoff bracket.
The Western Conference, though, remains a muddled mess.
While matchups are locked in the East, the Wild West still has seeds 4 through 7 up for grabs with Sunday's all-hands-on-deck slate bringing the season to a close. There could be more twists and turns coming, in other words, so let's take stock of where everything stands now before closing with a couple of postseason predictions.
Updated NBA Standings
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Eastern Conference
1. z-Cleveland Cavaliers: 64-17
2. y-Boston Celtics: 60-21
3. x-New York Knicks: 50-31
4. x-Indiana Pacers: 49-32
5. x-Milwaukee Bucks: 47-34
6. x-Detroit Pistons: 44-37
7. y-Orlando Magic: 41-40
8. pb-Atlanta Hawks: 39-42
9. pb-Chicago Bulls: 38-43
10. pb-Miami Heat: 37-44
11. e-Toronto Raptors: 30-51
12. e-Brooklyn Nets: 26-55
13. e-Philadelphia 76ers: 24-57
14. e-Charlotte Hornets: 19-62
15. e-Washington Wizards: 17-64
Western Conference
1. z-Oklahoma City Thunder: 67-14
2. y-Houston Rockets: 52-29
3. y-Los Angeles Lakers: 50-31
4. Denver Nuggets: 49-32
5. Los Angeles Clippers: 49-32
6. Golden State Warriors: 48-33
7. Minnesota Timberwolves: 48-33
8. pb-Memphis Grizzlies: 47-34
9. pb-Sacramento Kings: 39-42
10. pb-Dallas Mavericks: 39-42
11. e-Phoenix Suns: 36-45
12. e-Portland Trail Blazers: 35-46
13. e-San Antonio Spurs: 33-48
14. e-New Orleans Pelicans: 21-60
15. e-Utah Jazz: 17-64
*z-clinched conference; y-clinched division; x-clinched playoff berth; pb-clinched play-in berth; e-eliminated from playoff contention
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 Golden State Warriors
No. 4 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers
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 Detroit Pistons
No. 4 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks
Play-In Tournament
Western Conference
No. 7 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies
No. 9 Sacramento Kings vs. No. 10 Dallas Mavericks
Eastern Conference
No. 7 Orlando Magic vs. No. 8 Atlanta Hawks
No. 9 Chicago Bulls vs. No. 10 Miami Heat
Postseason Predictions
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Both 5 seeds beat the 4s
No one is hotter than the two teams seeded fifth in the standings: the Bucks, who already have the spot, and the Clippers, who likely stay put if they win at Golden State on Sunday.
Both Milwaukee and L.A. are riding seven-game winning streaks. The schedule has been kind to the Bucks, but it also helps having Giannis Antetokounmpo, who's gone unstoppable-force mode while averaging a triple-double (31.8 points, 12 rebounds and 11.8 assists) during this streak. The Clippers, meanwhile, keep finding ways to win at both ends, scoring over 130 points twice and holding three opponents to fewer than 100 points in this stretch.
It's easy to like what both are doing, and neither will be intimidated heading into their opening round matchup. The Bucks are 3-1 against the Pacers this season, and their only loss was decided by a single point. The Clippers went 2-2 against the Nuggets, who just axed their coach and general manager amid a four-game skid.
The Wolves win the play-in, then knock off Rockets
The Timberwolves have had their ups and downs this season, but it's been a lot more feast than famine of late. Minnesota is 16-4 since the first of March. That's the third-best record in the entire league.
This isn't your normal play-in participant, though that's where the Wolves might finish given the Western Conference's congestion. And if they quickly secured the 7 seed there as they should, they'll be eagerly awaiting a first-round tussle with a Rockets team they've already taken down twice this season.
Houston deserves credit for the securing the No. 2 seed, but there are still questions about this club. Like, whether it has enough half-court offense to get by, or if its collective lack of experience could lead to some big-stage stumbles. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, have experience, balance and the best player in this potential matchup with Anthony Edwards. Oh, and Minnesota actually has a better net rating than Houston, too. It's entirely possible the Wolves would be favored in this series, and we'd like their chances of pulling off the "upset."
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