If the NBA playoffs were to start today, this is what the bracket would look like
There are still a few wins and losses to be had in the final weeks of the NBA season, but that doesn’t stop us from doing a way-too-early look at who’s in, who’s out of the 2025 NBA playoffs.
In the West, will blockbuster mega-trades such as the Miami Heat moving Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors or the Dallas Mavericks trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers help either team’s playoff chances? Currently they’d play each other in the first round as the fourth and fifth seeds.
Can the Mavericks, who made the NBA Finals last season, even make it into the playoffs after losing Doncic? They’re currently in the ninth position with 37 wins. The Sacramento Kings have one fewer win in 10th position while the Phoenix Suns have 35 wins and are currently on the outside looking in.
More importantly, can any team challenge the top-ranked Cleveland Cavilers or Oklahoma City Thunder? As of April 1, the two have a combined 27 losses – fewer than most teams in the playoff mix.
If the NBA playoffs started today, what the bracket would look like
The play-in tournament begins April 15, and the first round is scheduled to start April 19.
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How to watch the 2025 NBA playoffs
Teams that finish 7th through 10th in the Western and Eastern conferences will play each other in the play-in tournament April 15-18, to determine the 7th and 8th seeds. According to the NBA, TNT and ESPN will combine to televise the six games of the play-in tournament. The games and broadcast schedule will be announced when the standings are final.
Teams on the outside looking in
West:
NOTE As of April 1.
East:
NOTE As of April 1.
