The 2024–25 NBA regular season concluded with a dramatic final day, solidifying the playoff picture and setting the stage for an exciting postseason. 

The Clippers beat the Warriors in a tough game, with all the stars coming out to play. Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler went toe-to-toe with LA’s James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, with the latter coming out on top in overtime. With the Clippers’ win, they are slotted at the 5th seed and will face 4th-seeded Denver after also winning against Houston.

The Warriors’ loss will put them in the play-in tournament, which they will host against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Minnesota Timberwolves booked a date with the 3rd-seeded Lakers after their win vs the Utah Jazz. 

The Play-In Tournament is scheduled for April 15–18, followed by the commencement of the playoffs on April 19.​ 

Western Conference

The Oklahoma City Thunder secured the top seed in the West with a franchise-best 68–14 record, while the Houston Rockets claimed the second seed. Both teams now await their playoff opponents with the results of the play-in tournament.

Play-In Matchups:

• (7) Golden State Warriors vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies
• (9) Sacramento Kings vs. (10) Dallas Mavericks ​

Eastern Conference

The Cleveland Cavaliers clinched the top seed in the East with a 64–18 record, marking their first number 1 seed since 2016. The Boston Celtics secured the second seed, followed by the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers.

Play-In Matchups:

• (7) Orlando Magic vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks
• (9) Chicago Bulls vs. (10) Miami Heat

The Play-In Tournament will determine the final two playoff spots in each conference. The winners of the 7-8 games will earn the seventh seed, while the losers will face the winners of the 9-10 games to compete for the eighth seed. 

The playoffs promise intense matchups, with teams like the Thunder and Cavaliers aiming to capitalize on their strong regular-season performances, while other teams like the Lakers, Warriors, Celtics, and Bucks looking to make deep postseason runs.​