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After a long 23 weeks, the 2024-25 NBA regular season is now in the home stretch. The final week before the playoffs begin is here, and chaos is surely to ensue.
Eight playoff spots have been clinched so far, and more are expected to be secured as each day passes, but perhaps the most interesting aspect is where teams end up being seeded for the postseason. For instance, the gap between the No. 3 seed and No. 8 seed in the Western Conference is two games, with seven teams still in position to secure the third spot. That means this week’s games could be the difference between having home court advantage in the first round to suddenly having to compete in the play-in tournament just to keep the season alive.
All playoff and play-in spots have been secured in the Eastern Conference, but teams are still fighting for positioning. It’s safe to say it’s going to be a wild final week with every result having a major impact on the playoff picture.
When is the NBA play-in tournament?
Seeds No. 7 through 10 will play in the play-in tournament, which begins on April 15 and ends on April 18.
In the first games of the play-in tournament, the No. 7 seeds will host the No. 8 seeds. The winner of this game will secure a spot as the No. 7 seed in their respective conference, while the team that loses will have to play one more game to qualify for the playoffs. In the second games of the play-in tournament, the No. 9 seeds will host the No. 10 seeds, with the winning team moving to the final game, while the losing team is eliminated.
In the final games of the play-in tournament, the losers of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchup will host the winners of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 games. The victors will advance to the NBA playoffs as the No. 8 seed, while the losing team will be eliminated.
Playoff picture: Who has clinched a spot?
The top six teams in each conference will earn a playoff spot. The winners of the play-in tournament will move on to the first round of the playoffs, which begins on Saturday, April 19.
Here are the teams that have clinched at least a play-in spot, and what seed they will or could be for the postseason:
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
- Oklahoma City Thunder: No. 1 seed (playoffs clinched)
- Houston Rockets: No. 2 or 3 seed (playoffs clinched)
- Los Angeles Lakers: No. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 seed
- Denver Nuggets: No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 seed
- Los Angeles Clippers: No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 seed
- Golden State Warriors: No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 seed
- Minnesota Timberwolves: No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 seed
- Memphis Grizzles: No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 seed
NBA playoff bracket: Match-ups for current standings
Standings before games on Monday, April 7
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
NBA standings
Here are the NBA standings before games on Monday afternoon, April 7:
(C) clinched conference; (D) clinched division; (x) clinched playoff berth; (e) eliminated
Eastern Conference
- 1. Cleveland Cavaliers: 62-16 (D)
- 2. Boston Celtics: 58-20 (D)
- 3. New York Knicks: 50-28 (x)
- 4. Indiana Pacers: 47-31 (x)
- 5. Milwaukee Bucks: 44-34 (x)
- 6. Detroit Pistons: 43-35 (x)
- 7. Orlando Magic: 38-40
- 8. Atlanta Hawks: 37-41
- 9. Chicago Bulls: 36-42
- 10. Miami Heat: 35-43
- 11. Toronto Raptors: 29-50 (e)
- 12. Brooklyn Nets: 25-53 (e)
- 13. Philadelphia 76ers: 23-55 (e)
- 14. Charlotte Hornets: 19-59 (e)
- 15. Washington Wizards: 17-61 (e)
Western Conference
- 1. Oklahoma City Thunder: 64-14 (C)
- 2. Houston Rockets: 52-27 (x)
- 3. Los Angeles Lakers: 48-30
- 4. Denver Nuggets: 47-32
- 5. Los Angeles Clippers: 46-32
- 6. Golden State Warriors: 46-32
- 7. Minnesota Timberwolves: 46-32
- 8. Memphis Grizzlies: 46-32
- 9. Sacramento Kings: 38-40
- 10. Dallas Mavericks: 38-41
- 11. Phoenix Suns: 35-43
- 12. Portland Trail Blazers: 35-44 (e)
- 13. San Antonio Spurs: 32-46 (e)
- 14. New Orleans Pelicans: 21-57 (e)
- 15. Utah Jazz: 16-63 (e)
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