East Leaders Solidifying:: The Cleveland Cavaliers (around 60 wins) are closing in on the #1 seed, while the Boston Celtics (mid-50s wins) are comfortably positioned at #2.
East Mid-Pack Battle:: The New York Knicks (~47 wins) hold #3, but the Indiana Pacers (~44 wins), Detroit Pistons (~42 wins), and Milwaukee Bucks (~40 wins) are tightly clustered in seeds 4-6.
Bucks Struggling:: Milwaukee has dropped to #6 amid a late-season slump, poor performance against top teams, and a significant injury to Damian Lillard (blood clots).
Play-In Fight:: Seeds 7-10 in both conferences are highly contested. Key teams in the East include the Hawks, Magic, Bulls, and Heat. In the West, look out for the Timberwolves, Clippers, Mavericks, and Kings.
West Leaders:: The Oklahoma City Thunder (leading the conference) and Houston Rockets appear strong at the top of the West.
Why this matters: Final seeding drastically impacts first-round matchups and potential paths to the Finals. The Play-In tournament adds an extra hurdle for teams finishing 7th-10th, while injuries to stars like Lillard can derail a team's championship aspirations.
The final stretch of the 2025 NBA regular season sees intense jockeying for playoff positioning in both conferences. While the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics appear locked into the top two seeds in the East, the middle of the pack remains highly competitive. The New York Knicks hold the #3 spot but face pressure from the Indiana Pacers (#4). Seeds 4 through 6 are particularly volatile, with the Pacers, Detroit Pistons (#5), and Milwaukee Bucks (#6) separated by only a few games.
The Milwaukee Bucks' situation is notable. Entering early April on a four-game losing streak and having lost six of their last eight, they've fallen to the 6th seed. This marks potentially their lowest seeding since 2018, despite featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo. Their struggles are compounded by an 0-10 record against the top three Eastern Conference teams (Cavs, Celtics, Knicks) and the recent loss of All-Star Damian Lillard, who is out indefinitely treating blood clots. They also played a significant portion of the season without Bobby Portis due to suspension.
The Play-In Tournament picture (seeds 7-10) is equally tight. In the East, the Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, and Miami Heat are battling, with seeding likely to shift before the regular season concludes on April 13th. The West sees a similar fight involving the Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, and Sacramento Kings.
The Play-In Tournament runs from April 15-18, adding a layer of high-stakes basketball just before the official playoffs begin on April 19.
Q: When do the 2025 NBA playoffs start?
Following the Play-In Tournament (April 15-18, 2025), the first round of the NBA playoffs begins on Saturday, April 19, 2025, with some series starting April 20.
Q: How does the NBA Play-In Tournament work?
The 7th and 8th place teams in each conference play, with the winner securing the #7 seed. The 9th and 10th place teams play, with the loser being eliminated. The winner of the 9/10 game then plays the loser of the 7/8 game for the final #8 seed.
Q: Which teams have been eliminated from playoff contention as of early April 2025?
In the East, the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets, and Washington Wizards are out. In the West, the New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz are eliminated.
The final games of the regular season (ending April 13, 2025) are critical for determining final playoff and play-in seeds.
Monitor injury news closely, especially regarding key players like Damian Lillard, as this significantly impacts team outlooks.
Prepare for exciting, high-stakes basketball during the Play-In Tournament (April 15-18).
Remember that the current projected matchups can and likely will change based on the results of the remaining games.
The playoff race is heating up! Which team do you think will make a surprising run in the playoffs? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
*Share this article with others who need to stay ahead of this trend!*
Primary Source: 2025 NBA playoff picture: Standings, projections... (CBS Sports)
*Compiled by Yanuki using data from multiple sports reports including Yardbarker/SI and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as of early April 2025.*
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