2025 NBA Playoff Picture: What's at stake in the last week of the regular season
2025 NBA Playoff Picture: What's at stake in the last week of the regular season
The NBA playoff picture will come into clearer view each day between now and the end of the regular season on April 13. In the meantime, we will provide detailed daily updates on the landscape, including magic numbers, remaining schedule, relevant tiebreakers and the stakes for every day's slate of games.
Click here for the Eastern Conference.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Playoff-bound, seeding locked
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (64-14)
• Clinched No. 1 seed
• Net rating: 5.6 (1st)
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What's at stake: First-round series vs. No. 8 seed (Lakers, Nuggets, Clippers, Warriors, Timberwolves, Grizzlies, Kings, Mavericks, or Suns)
Playoff-bound, seeding to be determined
2. Houston Rockets (52-27)
• Clinched playoff berth
• Net rating: 5.6 (4th)
• Magic number for No. 2 seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: @LAC, @LAL, DEN
• Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 3 seed
What's at stake: First-round series vs. No. 6 or No. 7 seed (Lakers, Nuggets, Clippers Warriors, Timberwolves, or Grizzlies)
Battling for guaranteed playoff spot
3. Los Angeles Lakers (48-30)
• Net rating: 1.3 (14th)
• Magic number for top-six seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: @OKC, @DAL, HOU, @POR
• Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed
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What's at stake: Home-court advantage in first round
4. Denver Nuggets (47-32)
• Net rating: 3.6 (9th)
• Magic number for top-six seed: 3
• Remaining schedule: @SAC, MEM, @HOU
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed
What's at stake: Home-court advantage in first round
5. Los Angeles Clippers (46-32)
• Net rating: 4.8 (5th)
• Magic number for top-six seed: 4
• Remaining schedule: SAS, HOU, @SAC, @GSW
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed
What's at stake: Home-court advantage in first round
6. Golden State Warriors (46-32)
• Net rating: 2.8 (10th)
• Magic number for top-six seed: 4
• Remaining schedule: @PHX, SAS, @POR, LAC
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed
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What's at stake: Home-court advantage in first round
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (46-32)
• Net rating: 4.6 (6th)
• Magic number for top-six seed: 4
• Remaining schedule: @MIL, @MEM, BKN, UTA
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed
What's at stake: Home-court advantage in first round
8. Memphis Grizzlies (46-32)
• Net rating: 4.5 (7th)
• Magic number for top-six seed: 4
• Remaining schedule: @CHA, MIN, @DEN, DAL
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 8 seed
What's at stake: Home-court advantage in first round
Play-in bound
9. Sacramento Kings (38-40)
• Net rating: 0.5 (15th)
• Magic number for top-10 seed: 2
• Remaining schedule: @DET, DEN, LAC, PHX
• Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed
• Lowest possible finish: Out of play-in tournament
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What's at stake: Home-court advantage in 9/10 play-in game vs. Mavs or Suns
10. Dallas Mavericks (38-41)
• Net rating: -1.0 (18th)
• Magic number for top-10 seed: 2
• Remaining schedule: LAL, TOR, @MEM
• Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed
• Lowest possible finish: Out of play-in tournament
What's at stake: Home-court advantage in 9/10 play-in game vs. Kings or Suns
11. Phoenix Suns (35-43)
• Net rating: -2.6 (21st)
• Magic number for top-10 seed: Do not control own destiny
• Remaining schedule: GSW, OKC, SAS, @SAC
• Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed
• Lowest possible finish: Out of play-in tournament
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What's at stake: Home-court advantage in 9/10 play-in game vs. Kings or Mavs
Monday's games of consequence (all times Eastern)
• Kings at Pistons (7 p.m., NBA TV)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Playoff-bound, seeding to be determined
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (62-16)
• Clinched playoff berth
• Net rating: 9.4 (3rd)
• Magic number for No. 1 seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: CHI, @IND, @NYK, IND
• Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 2 seed
What's at stake: First-round series vs. No. 7 or No. 8 seed (Magic, Hawks, Bulls or Heat)
2. Boston Celtics (58-20)
• Clinched playoff berth
• Net rating: 9.5 (2nd)
• Magic number for No. 1 seed: Do not control own destiny
• Remaining schedule: @NYK, @ORL, CHA, CHA
• Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 2 seed
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What's at stake: First-round series vs. No. 7 or No. 8 seed (Magic, Hawks, Bulls or Heat)
3. New York Knicks (50-28)
• Clinched playoff berth
• Net rating: 4.3 (8th)
• Magic number for No. 3 seed: 1
• Remaining schedule: BOS, @DET, CLE, @BKN
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 4 seed
What's at stake: First-round series vs. Bucks or Pistons
4. Indiana Pacers (47-31)
• Clinched playoff berth
• Net rating: 2.2 (12th)
• Magic number for No. 4 seed: 2
• Remaining schedule: WAS, CLE, ORL, @CLE
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 5 seed
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What's at stake: First-round series vs. Bucks or Pistons
5. Milwaukee Bucks (44-34)
• Clinched playoff berth
• Net rating: 1.9 (13th)
• Magic number for No. 5 seed: 3
• Remaining schedule: MIN, NOP, @DET, DET
• Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 6 seed
What's at stake: First-round series vs. Knicks or Pacers
6. Detroit Pistons (43-35)
• Clinched playoff berth
• Net rating: 2.3 (11th)
• Magic number for No. 5 seed: 4
• Remaining schedule: SAC, NYK, MIL, @MIL
• Highest possible finish: No. 5 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 6 seed
What's at stake: First-round series vs. Knicks or Pacers
Play-in bound
7. Orlando Magic (38-40)
• Net rating: -0.5 (17th)
• Magic number for top-eight seed: 3
• Remaining schedule: ATL, BOS, @IND, @ATL
• Highest possible finish: No. 7 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
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What's at stake: Home-court advantage in 7/8 play-in game
8. Atlanta Hawks (37-41)
• Net rating: -1.7 (19th)
• Magic number for top-eight seed: 3
• Remaining schedule: @ORL, @BKN, @PHI, ORL
• Highest possible finish: No. 7 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
What's at stake: Home-court advantage in 7/8 play-in game
9. Chicago Bulls (36-42)
• Net rating: -2.1 (20th)
• Magic number for No. 9 seed: 3
• Remaining schedule: @CLE, MIA, WAS, @PHI
• Highest possible finish: No. 7 seed
• Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
What's at stake: Home-court advantage in 7/8 play-in game
10. Miami Heat (35-43)
• Net rating: -0.2 (16th)
• Magic number for No. 9 seed: Do not control own destiny
• Remaining schedule: PHI, @CHI, @NOP, WAS
• Highest possible finish: No. 8
• Lowest possible finish: No. 10 seed
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What's at stake: Avoid 9/10 play-in elimination game
Monday's games of consequence (all times Eastern)
• Kings at Pistons (7 p.m., NBA TV)
• 76ers at Heat (7:30 p.m.)
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