2025 NBA Playoff Race: Standings, Clinching Scenarios, and Daily Updates

2025 NBA Playoff Race: Standings, Clinching Scenarios, and Daily Updates

The race for the 2025 NBA playoffs is intensifying. With constant shifts in the standings, we’ll break down the changes after every night of games. We’ll also highlight clinching scenarios and provide an updated look at the playoff bracket if the season were to end today. This page will be refreshed nightly after the last game concludes.

NBA Standings: Latest moves

(After games played on April 3)

Western Conference

  • Lakers lose to Warriors, fall 1/2 game behind No. 3 Nuggets

  • Warriors beat Lakers, climb within 1 games of No. 4 Lakers

  • Timberwolves beat Nets, stay at No. 7 via head-to-head tiebreaker with No. 6 Grizzlies

  • Grizzlies defeat Heat, climb to No. 6 and 1/2 game behind No. 5 Warriors

Eastern Conference

  • Bucks beat 76ers, climb to No. 5 via head-to-head tiebreaker over No. 6 Pistons

  • Magic defeat Wizards, increase lead over No. 8 Hawks to 1 game

  • Heat lose to Grizzlies, fall 1.5 games behind No. 8 Hawks and are locked into SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament

NBA Playoffs bracket

(After games played on April 3)

Western Conference

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner

(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Play-In Winner 

(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Memphis Grizzlies

(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Golden State Warriors

Eastern Conference

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Play-In Winner

(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner 

(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks

(4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Detroit Pistons

SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament

(After games played on April 3)

Western Conference

(7) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (8) LA Clippers

(9) Dallas Mavericks vs. (10) Sacramento Kings

Eastern Conference

(7) Orlando Magic vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks

(9) Miami Heat vs. (10) Chicago Bulls

When do the playoffs start?

Here are the key dates for the NBA postseason:

  • The 2025 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament will take place April 15-18.

  • The first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs will start April 19.

  • Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals will be June 5.

Which teams have clinched a playoff spot?

Here are the teams that have clinched a playoff berth:

Western Conference

  • Oklahoma City Thunder

  • Houston Rockets

Eastern Conference

  • Cleveland Cavaliers

  • Boston Celtics

  • New York Knicks

  • Indiana Pacers

Which teams have been eliminated?

Here are the teams that have been eliminated from postseason contention:

Western Conference

  • Utah Jazz

  • New Orleans Pelicans

Eastern Conference

  • Washington Wizards

  • Charlotte Hornets

  • Brooklyn Nets

  • Philadelphia 76ers

  • Toronto Raptors

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