2025 NBA Playoff Picture: Current East and West Scenarios
The 2025 NBA Playoffs are finally here. After months of regular-season battles and a dramatic Play-In Tournament, the playoff bracket is complete. We now have 16 teams ready to chase the championship.
In this post, we’ll walk through the full playoff picture. You’ll see who made it, how they got there, and what each first-round matchup looks like.
Eastern Conference Playoff Picture (Updated)
The East has been strong all year. The top teams locked in early, while others had to fight through the Play-In.
Top 6 Seeds
These six teams earned a direct spot in the playoffs:
| Seed | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 64–18 |
| 2 | Boston Celtics | 61–21 |
| 3 | New York Knicks | 51–31 |
| 4 | Indiana Pacers | 50–32 |
| 5 | Milwaukee Bucks | 48–34 |
| 6 | Detroit Pistons | 44–38 |
Play-In Winners
The last two playoff spots came from the Play-In Tournament:
- Orlando Magic beat the Hawks 120–95 to earn the No. 7 seed
- Miami Heat won two big games to become the first 10th seed in playoff history
First-Round Matchups
| Matchup | Notes |
|---|---|
| (1) Cavaliers vs. (8) Heat | Heat come in hot, Cavs had a dominant season |
| (2) Celtics vs. (7) Magic | Celtics are favorites, but Magic can surprise |
| (3) Knicks vs. (6) Pistons | A throwback rivalry, tough series ahead |
| (4) Pacers vs. (5) Bucks | Two close teams, could go the distance |
Each series is best-of-seven. First to four wins moves on.
Western Conference Playoff Picture (Updated)
The West is deep with talent. Teams fought hard all season, and now the matchups are locked in.
Top 6 Seeds
These teams earned playoff spots based on regular-season performance:
| Seed | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 60–22 |
| 2 | Houston Rockets | 55–27 |
| 3 | Los Angeles Lakers | 51–31 |
| 4 | Denver Nuggets | 50–32 |
| 5 | LA Clippers | 48–34 |
| 6 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 45–37 |
Play-In Winners
Two more teams earned their way in:
- Golden State Warriors beat the Grizzlies 121–116 to lock up the 7th seed
- Memphis Grizzlies bounced back to beat the Mavericks 120–106 for the final spot
First-Round Matchups
| Matchup | Notes |
|---|---|
| (1) Thunder vs. (8) Grizzlies | Thunder had a top season, Grizzlies bring fight |
| (2) Rockets vs. (7) Warriors | Young team vs playoff veterans |
| (3) Lakers vs. (6) Timberwolves | Physical matchup, could be a long series |
| (4) Nuggets vs. (5) Clippers | Even teams, expect close games |
Play-In Tournament Recap
The Play-In Tournament added even more excitement to the end of the season. It gave four teams one final shot to sneak in—and a couple of them made it count.
East Highlights
- Orlando beat Atlanta 120–95 to grab the 7th spot
- Miami beat the Bulls 109–90
- Then knocked off Atlanta 123–114 in overtime to clinch the 8th seed
- The Heat became the first 10th seed ever to make the playoffs
West Highlights
- Warriors beat the Grizzlies 121–116 to get in as the 7th seed
- Mavericks beat the Kings 120–106 to stay alive
- Grizzlies came back strong and beat the Mavericks 120–106 for the 8th seed
These were intense games where teams had no room for error.
The 2025 NBA Playoffs are here, and it’s win or go home. Every game counts now, and fans are in for a wild ride to the Finals.