National Basketball Association

2025 NBA Playoff Picture, Bracket, Standings

Updated Jan. 21, 2025 3:09 p.m. ET

The 2025 NBA Playoffs are still a ways off, but it's never too early to take a look at the playoff picture.

Seeds 7-10 will compete in the NBA Play-in Tournament to advance to the first round of the NBA playoffs. Here's what the playoffs would look like if the season ended today*:

Eastern Conference Seeding

Eastern Conference Bracket

(1) Cavs vs. (8) Winner of play-in
(2) Celtics vs. (7) Winner of play-in
(3) Knicks vs. (6) Hawks
(4) Bucks vs. (5) Pacers

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Western Conference Seeding

Western Conference Bracket

(1) Thunder vs. (8) Winner of play-in
(2) Rockets vs. (7) Winner of play-in
(3) Grizzlies vs. (6) Lakers
(4) Nuggets vs. (5) Clippers

NBA Play-In Tournament Bracket

Eastern Conference

(7) Orlando Magic vs. (8) Miami Heat
(9) Detroit Pistons vs. (10) Chicago Bulls

Western Conference

(7) Dallas Mavericks vs. (8) Sacramento Kings
(9) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (10) Phoenix Suns

* As of 1/21/2025

How many teams make the NBA playoffs?

Sixteen teams in total make the NBA playoffs, eight teams from both the Eastern and Western Conference. The top six seeds in each conference advance based on the regular season record. The final two seeds in each conference are determined by the NBA Play-In Tournament.