The NBA regular season is charging toward a thrilling conclusion, and this weekend promises fireworks as teams scramble to lock down their postseason destinies. The final slate of regular season games wraps up this Sunday, with playoff spots — and bragging rights — still hanging in the balance, especially in the unpredictable Western Conference.
Under the league’s playoff format, the top six teams in each conference will punch their tickets directly to the first round of the playoffs starting April 19. Teams seeded 7th through 10th will battle it out in the Play-In Tournament from April 15 to 18, fighting for the final two playoff berths in each conference.
Eastern Conference Picture: Cavs Take Command, Familiar Faces Return
In the East, the playoff landscape is nearly set. The Cleveland Cavaliers secured the No. 1 seed earlier this week after dismantling the Chicago Bulls, clinching their best regular-season record in years. Behind them, the Boston Celtics — last year’s champions and a strong JustBet favourite to defend their crown — locked up the second seed despite a surprising stumble against the Orlando Magic midweek.
Joining Cleveland and Boston in the playoff field are the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Detroit Pistons. Meanwhile, the Magic, Hawks, Bulls, and Heat are bracing for Play-In battles. As for the Wizards, Hornets, Nets, 76ers, and Raptors, the offseason officially begins after Sunday’s final buzzer.
Even with the Cavaliers’ dominant record, many experts believe the Celtics remain the more dangerous team entering the playoffs, given their form and big-game experience. A potential Cavaliers-Celtics clash in the Eastern Conference Finals could deliver one of the tightest showdowns in recent memory.
Western Conference Mayhem: Thunder and Rockets Strike Early, Rest of the Pack Still Fighting
Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder stormed to the conference’s top spot weeks ago, briefly flirting with a historic 70-win season. However, a shocking upset by the Rockets and a heavy loss to the Lakers cooled those ambitions. Although OKC regained composure quickly, the historic milestone slipped through their fingers.
The Houston Rockets, rejuvenated after years in the wilderness, clinched the second seed and have their sights set on making noise deep into the postseason. But chaos still reigns below them. With only days remaining, the Lakers, Nuggets, Clippers, Warriors, Timberwolves, and Grizzlies are jammed tightly in the standings — and just two games separate them. Final seeding won’t be clear until the dust settles late Sunday night.
The Jazz, Pelicans, Spurs, Trail Blazers, and Suns, unfortunately, have been mathematically eliminated, setting up a crucial offseason ahead for those franchises.
Key Games to Watch: Playoff Dreams on the Line
With 30 games left to play across Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (no games scheduled for Saturday), intensity will be at an all-time high. Some teams may choose to rest key players ahead of their playoff run, but for most, every minute will matter.
Eight must-watch matchups — split across Thursday and Sunday — are set to define who makes it in, who falls short, and who earns crucial seeding advantages. Even squads with no playoff hopes will have the opportunity to play spoiler and influence the final picture.
Fans can expect high-octane basketball, last-second heroics, and heartbreak before the playoff dust settles. Strap in — the road to the 2025 NBA Finals starts here.
