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2025 NBA Playoffs Power Rankings: Thunder, Celtics Lead the Way
We're a week into the 2025 NBA playoffs, which means it's time to adjust our expectations of what's to come between now and June.
Several series have already shifted dramatically. Others, such as those involving the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers, look like they're going to go chalk.
Based on everything we've seen in this first week, team and individual numbers, championship chances and plenty of subjectivity, here are this week's power rankings.
16. Memphis Grizzlies (+100000)
1 of 16
Previous Rank: 14
Net Rating: -25.4
For the first half of Thursday's Game 3 against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, it looked like the Memphis Grizzlies were going to score an upset (and a blowout one, at that).
Then, with just over three minutes left in the second quarter and Memphis up 27, Luguentz Dort clipped Ja Morant out of midair and sent him tumbling to the hardwood and out of the rest of the game.
The Grizzlies scored one more basket to stretch the lead to 29, but it was all OKC from there on out.
Memphis lost the game, and Morant finished as a plus-16. Now, his Grizzlies are facing an insurmountable 0-3 deficit while we wait to hear the extent of their star guard's injury.
15. Miami Heat (+100000)
2 of 16
Previous Rank: 16
Net Rating: -16.5
A late run helped the Miami Heat lose Game 2 against the Cleveland Cavaliers by fewer than 10 points, but they appear to be drawing dead in the series.
There isn't enough firepower on this roster to keep pace for Cleveland's explosive offense. Miami's strength, its defense, isn't slowing the Cavs down. To this point, Cleveland is scoring a playoff-best 135.2 points per 100 possessions.
Most Heat fans have likely moved on to thinking about the offseason by now.
14. Orlando Magic (+100000)
3 of 16
Previous Rank: 15
Net Rating: -14.2
Even though Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum missed Game 2 with a wrist injury, the Orlando Magic weren't able to secure a victory on the road.
Orlando might not have enough scoring against Boston's stout defense to even make this a competitive series.
Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero are averaging 24 and 34 points in this series, respectively, but no one else is over 10. The rest of Orlando's roster is shooting 40.3 percent from the field, too.
13. Milwaukee Bucks (+23000)
4 of 16
Previous Rank: 12
Net Rating: -12.6
Damian Lillard returned earlier than expected from deep vein thrombosis in his calf, but that wasn't enough to prevent the Milwaukee Bucks from losing their second straight game against the Indiana Pacers.
In fact, having a seemingly slowed-down version of Lillard may have hurt Milwaukee, particularly on defense
Even if Lillard starts to move better as the series progresses, the Bucks don't have enough plus defenders other than Giannis Antetokounmpo to slow down Indiana enough to win four of the next five games.
12. Denver Nuggets (+10000)
5 of 16
Previous Rank: 9
Net Rating: -12.7
For the second year in a row, it looks like the 2023 NBA champions could be headed home early.
The Denver Nuggets needed 20 Los Angeles Clippers turnovers to squeak out a home victory in Game 1, but they surrendered home-court advantage in the next contest. And when the series shifted to L.A. on Thursday, they looked completely outmatched by a Clippers squad loaded with defense and shotmaking.
Now a heavy underdog to escape the first round, the next thing the Nuggets may have to look forward to is an offseason that could include some pretty dramatic changes.
The head coach and general manager were fired shortly before the regular season ended. It's probably fair to wonder if any Nikola Jokić's teammates might be next to go.
11. Detroit Pistons (+48000)
6 of 16
Previous Rank: 13
Net Rating: -0.8
The Detroit Pistons may be down a game in the series, but they were competitive in all three, can easily point to a missed over-and-back call on the New York Knicks as a play of the game on Thursday and still have at least one more game on their home floor.
If Cade Cunningham, who's averaging 26.0 points, 8.7 assists, 8.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals, continues to perform like he has all series, the Pistons still have a chance.
All told, this has been a strong debut for a team that won just 14 games last season. And regardless of how the next few contests turn out, the experience Detroit is picking up now will serve the young core well.
10. Indiana Pacers (+6000)
7 of 16
Previous Rank: 11
Net Rating: +12.6
The Bucks' defense looks almost helpless against Tyrese Haliburton, who's picking it apart to the tune of 12.0 assists and 2.0 turnovers per game.
The 25-year-old's playmaking has helped give Indiana the second-best offense in the playoffs to date even though he's shooting only 17.6 percent from three.
Haliburton is likely to have at least a game or two with better shooting, which could be the final nail in the coffin for the Bucks this season.
9. Golden State Warriors (+2300)
8 of 16
Previous Rank: 5
Net Rating: -3.3
Regardless of whether Jimmy Butler is able to return from the "deep glute muscle contusion" he suffered Wednesday, this Warriors-Rockets series now feels dramatically different than it did prior to Game 2.
Before the six-time All-Star entered the Warriors' rotation, they were 25-25 with a negative point differential. Without his playmaking and the threat of his scoring, life is going to be significantly harder for Stephen Curry. And without his defense, Jalen Green is far likelier to have big scoring nights.
Even if Butler comes back, it's hard to imagine him not at least being slowed down by his injury. That could take Golden State from a near-foregone conclusion to advance beyond this round to a real possibility to lose this series.
8. Houston Rockets (+6500)
9 of 16
Previous Rank: 10
Net Rating: +3.3
As mentioned, the Golden State Warriors-Houston Rockets first-round series turned on a dime (or rather, on a fall) when Jimmy Butler crashed onto his backside in Game 2 and suffered what was initially called a pelvic contusion (but was later reported to be a deep glute muscle contusion).
The betting odds may not reflect this yet, but Houston's chances of making a deep run are significantly better now.
Butler's misfortune isn't the only reason to take the Rockets seriously, either. They play physical, mean and big, particularly on defense.
When Jalen Green gets going on offense (like he did on Wednesday, when he scored 38 points), they're tough for anyone to beat.
7. New York Knicks (+3400)
10 of 16
Previous Rank: 7
Net Rating: +0.8
The New York Knicks surrendered home-court advantage in Game 2 against the Detroit Pistons, but they wrestled it back with a clutch road win on Wednesday.
And fresh off winning 2024-25 Clutch Player of the Year, Jalen Brunson was huge when the game got tight.
In the final five minutes of New York's 118-116 win, the two-time All-Star had three of his team's four field goals, four of its six free throws and 10 of its 14 points.
And while the competition is certainly going to get stiffer next round (assuming the Knicks survive), having a player who, in the highest-leverage possessions, can create open looks and trips to the free-throw line like Brunson is a real weapon.
6. Los Angeles Lakers (+2000)
11 of 16
Previous Rank: 4
Net Rating: -7.4
During their 117-95 loss in Game 1, the Los Angeles Lakers looked small, a little old and physically overmatched against the Minnesota Timberwolves. But they hit back hard in Game 2 behind a 31-point, 12-rebound, nine-assist performance from Luka Dončić.
Dončić's near triple-double was far from the biggest reason for the win, though. L.A.'s defense was more engaged, and the entire team looked less rattled by Minnesota's physicality.
If there's cause for concern, it's that the Wolves went 1-of-12 on wide-open threes in Game 2. But showing they can win a slugfest against an opponent that's built for those is a positive for the Lakers.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves (+3500)
12 of 16
Previous Rank: 8
Net Rating: +7.4
It looks like the Minnesota Timberwolves will be in for a dog fight with the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round.
Though they lost Game 2, they've already stolen home-court advantage. And they have the dogs necessary to win the series.
After dropping 47 points in the first two contests against L.A., Anthony Edwards' career postseason scoring average now sits at 27.5. After last season's run to the Western Conference Finals, Ant, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley and the rest of this team has enough postseason experience to score the upset over the Lakers.
4. Los Angeles Clippers (+2000)
13 of 16
Previous Rank: 6
Net Rating: +12.7
It might be time to bump the Los Angeles Clippers up to the legitimate title contenders' tier that already includes the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Their best player, Kawhi Leonard, looks like the 2019 version of himself. The two-man game of James Harden and Ivica Zubac is locked in. And a supporting cast packed with defense, length and versatility fits the stars almost perfectly.
A second-round matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder looms, where L.A. will be an underdog, but everything we've seen so far suggests it will have some bite.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (+490)
14 of 16
Previous Rank: 3
Net Rating: +16.5
The Miami Heat won the second half of Game 2 by seven points on Wednesday, but they lost the other six quarters in Cleveland by 38.
For a team that could only keep this series close by relying on its passable defense, the way the Cavs are scoring has to be concerning.
Cleveland has the best offense in the postseason right now, as multiple Cavaliers are cooking Miami.
Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland are averaging 30.0 and 24.0 points, respectively. Ty Jerome, Evan Mobley, Max Strus and Jarrett Allen are all averaging double figures.
And this first-round series is trending toward a sweep.
2. Boston Celtics (+190)
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Previous Rank: 2
Net Rating: +14.2
Wednesday served as a showcase of the Boston Celtics' depth. With Jayson Tatum out, Jaylen Brown went for 36 points and 10 rebounds, while four other Celtics reached double figures in a 109-100 win over the Magic.
Honestly, the result shouldn't have been all that surprising. Boston has a point differential around that of a 61-win team when Tatum is off the floor, which shouldn't be seen as a knock against him.
The Celtics are just loaded with versatility, shooting and defense, perhaps more than any other team in the playoffs (including the Oklahoma City Thunder).
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (+175)
16 of 16
Previous Rank: 1
Net Rating: +25.4
As if winning by 51 in Game 1 and 19 in Game 2 wasn't enough, the Oklahoma City Thunder found a new way to terrify the rest of the league in Thursday's Game 3.
Late in the second quarter, OKC trailed by 29 points. The result almost felt like a foregone conclusion for Memphis. The Thunder would have to regroup and try to regain control in Game 4.
Or...they could just author a ridiculous second half and change that saw them outscore Memphis 74-39 and keep their hopes of a first-round sweep alive.
This team's ability to completely turn off opponents' offenses at a moment's notice is absurd. The firepower surrounding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who's yet to have a game shooting over 40 percent from the field, is immense.
And it's starting to feel like all roads this postseason lead to OKC.
