2025 NBA Playoff Picture: Lakers vs. Warriors and the latest clinching scenarios

2025 NBA Playoff Picture: Lakers vs. Warriors and the latest clinching scenarios

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, strength of schedule, relevant tiebreakers and the stakes for every day's slate of games.

Click here for the Eastern Conference.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (64-12)

• Clinched No. 1 seed and first-round playoff series vs. No. 8 seed (determined by play-in tournament)

2. Houston Rockets (50-27)

• Clinched playoff berth
• Net rating: 5.4
• Magic number for top-four seed: 1
• Remaining strength of schedule: .646
• Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 5)

3. Los Angeles Lakers (46-29)

• Net rating: 0.8
• Magic number for top-six seed: 4
• Remaining strength of schedule: .589
• Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

4. Denver Nuggets (47-30)

• Net rating: 3.9
• Magic number for top-six seed: 3
• Remaining strength of schedule: .576
• Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

5. Golden State Warriors (44-31)

• Net rating: 2.8
• Magic number for top-six seed: 7
• Remaining strength of schedule: .538
• Highest possible finish: No. 2 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

6. Minnesota Timberwolves (44-32)

• Net rating: 4.4
• Magic number for top-six seed: 6
• Remaining strength of schedule: .382
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

7. Los Angeles Clippers (44-32)

• Net rating: 4.2
• Magic number for top-six seed: 6
• Remaining strength of schedule: .520
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

8. Memphis Grizzlies (44-32)

• Net rating: 4.5
• Magic number for top-six seed: Do not control own destiny
• Remaining strength of schedule: .491
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

9. Dallas Mavericks (38-39)

• Net rating: -0.4
• Magic number for top-10 seed: 4
• Remaining strength of schedule: .544
• Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed

10. Sacramento Kings (36-40)

• Net rating: 0.1
• Magic number for top-10 seed: 6
• Remaining strength of schedule: .543
• Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed

11. Phoenix Suns (35-41)

• Net rating: -2.2
• Magic number for top-10 seed: 6
• Remaining strength of schedule: .615
• Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed

12. Portland Trail Blazers (33-43)

• Net rating: -3.2
• Magic number for top-10 seed: Do not control own destiny
• Remaining strength of schedule: .440
• Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed

13. San Antonio Spurs (32-44)

• Net rating: -2.7
• Magic number for top-10 seed: Do not control own destiny
• Remaining strength of schedule: .538
• Highest possible finish: No. 9 seed

Thursday's games of consequence (all times Eastern)

• Blazers at Raptors (7:30 p.m.)
POR will be eliminated from contention for the No. 9 seed with a loss

• Grizzlies at Heat (7:30 p.m., TNT) 

• Timberwolves at Nets (7:30 p.m.)

• Warriors at Lakers (10 p.m., TNT)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (61-15)

• Clinched playoff berth
• Net rating: 9.8
• Magic number for No. 1 seed: 2
• Remaining strength of schedule: .526
• Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed (clinched no lower than No. 2)

2. Boston Celtics (56-20)

• Clinched playoff berth
• Net rating: 9.1
• Magic number for No. 1 seed: Do not control own destiny
• Remaining strength of schedule: .383
• Highest possible finish: No. 1 seed (clinched no lower than No. 2)

3. New York Knicks (48-28)

• Clinched playoff berth
• Net rating: 4.1
• Magic number for No. 3 seed: 3
• Remaining strength of schedule: .559
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 5)

4. Indiana Pacers (45-31)

• Clinched playoff berth
• Net rating: 1.8
• Magic number for No. 4 seed: 4
• Remaining strength of schedule: .521
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 6)

5. Detroit Pistons (42-34)

• Net rating: 2.3
• Magic number for top-six seed: 1
• Remaining strength of schedule: .524
• Highest possible finish: No. 3 seed (clinched no lower than No. 7)

6. Milwaukee Bucks (41-34)

• Net rating: 1.7
• Magic number for top-six seed: 2
• Remaining strength of schedule: .429
• Highest possible finish: No. 4 seed (clinched no lower than No. 8)

7. Orlando Magic (37-40)

• Net rating: -0.7
• Magic number for top-eight seed: 4
• Remaining strength of schedule: .500
• Highest possible finish: No. 6 seed (clinched no lower than No. 10)

8. Atlanta Hawks (36-40)

• Net rating: -1.7
• Magic number for top-eight seed: 6
• Remaining strength of schedule: .405
• Highest possible finish: No. 6 seed (clinched no lower than No. 10)

9. Miami Heat (35-41)

• Net rating: 0.0
• Magic number for top-eight seed: Do not control own destiny
• Remaining strength of schedule: .396
• Highest possible finish: No. 6 (clinched no lower than No. 10)

10. Chicago Bulls (34-42)

• Net rating: -2.4
• Magic number for top-eight seed: Do not control own destiny
• Remaining strength of schedule: .412
• Highest possible finish: No. 7 seed (clinched no lower than No. 10)

Thursday's games of consequence (all times Eastern)

• Bucks at 76ers (7 p.m.)
MIL can clinch a guaranteed playoff berth with a win and an ORL loss

• Magic at Wizards (7 p.m.)
ORL will be locked into the play-in tournament with a loss and either a MIL win or a MIA loss
DET can clinch a guaranteed playoff berth with an ORL loss

• Grizzlies at Heat (7:30 p.m., TNT)
MIA will be locked into the play-in tournament with a loss or a MIL win

Source: 2025 NBA Playoff Picture: Lakers vs. Warriors and the latest clinching scenarios