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NBA Power Rankings: Playoff Race Heats Up

With only a few weeks remaining in the 2024-25 NBA regular season, teams are starting to secure their postseason spots while others prepare for the offseason. The Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Oklahoma City Thunder have officially clinched playoff berths. Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, and Milwaukee Bucks have secured at least a spot in the play-in tournament.

As the season winds down, many crucial games remain, with significant stakes in both conferences. The battle for the No. 2 seed in the West remains wide open, and the play-in brackets in both the East and West are constantly shifting, promising an exciting finish to the regular season.

  1. Oklahoma City Thunder
    • 2024-25 record: 57-12
    • Next games: vs. CHA (Mar. 21), @ LAC (Mar. 23), @ SAC (Mar. 25)
    • The Thunder have won 10 of their last 11 games and are in position to clinch the top seed in the West, holding a 12.5-game lead over the No. 2 seed.
  2. Cleveland Cavaliers
    • 2024-25 record: 56-13
    • Next Games: @ PHX (Mar. 21), @ UTAH (Mar. 23), @ POR (Mar. 25)
    • The Cavaliers have lost three straight after a 16-game winning streak but still hold a seven-game lead over Boston for the No. 1 seed in the East.
  3. Boston Celtics
    • 2024-25 record: 50-19
    • Next games: @ UTAH (Mar. 21), @ POR (Mar. 23), @ SAC (Mar. 24)
    • Kristaps Porzingis has returned to form after recovering from an illness, averaging 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and two blocks on 62% shooting in his last two games.
  4. Houston Rockets
    • 2024-25 record: 45-25
    • Next games: @ MIA (Mar. 21), vs. DEN (Mar. 23), vs. ATL (Mar. 25)
    • The Rockets have won eight straight games, including a franchise-record 25-point comeback against the 76ers, and have reclaimed the No. 2 seed in the West.
  5. Los Angeles Lakers
    • 2024-25 record: 43-25
    • Next games: vs. MIL (Mar. 20), vs. CHI (Mar. 22), @ ORL (Mar. 24)
    • The Lakers have bounced back from a four-game losing streak, winning three straight games despite LeBron James’ absence, thanks in large part to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who have combined to average 55 points and 17 assists per game during this stretch.
  6. Denver Nuggets
    • 2024-25 record: 44-26
    • Next games: @ POR (Mar. 21), @ HOU (Mar. 23), vs. CHI (Mar. 24)
    • The Nuggets have lost to the Wizards and are 5-5 in their last 10 games. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray have missed multiple games recently to recover from injuries.
  7. Golden State Warriors
    • 2024-25 record: 40-29
    • Next games: @ CHA (Mar. 20), vs. WAS (Mar. 22), vs. DAL (Mar. 25)
    • The Warriors lost their second game in 16 with Jimmy Butler in the lineup, falling to Denver without Jokic, Murray, and Braun. They currently hold the No. 6 seed and aim to avoid the play-in tournament.
  8. Memphis Grizzlies
    • 2024-25 record: 43-27
    • Next games: @ LAC (Mar. 21), @ UTAH (Mar. 25), @ OKC (Mar. 27)
    • The Grizzlies have dropped to the No. 5 seed after losing three of their last four games.
  9. New York Knicks
    • 2024-25 record: 43-25
    • Next games: @ CHA (Mar. 20), vs. WAS (Mar. 22), vs. DAL (Mar. 25)
    • The Knicks are 4-6 in their last 10 games and expect Jalen Brunson to return before the playoffs after spraining his ankle earlier this month.
  10. Indiana Pacers
    • 2024-25 record: 39-29
    • Next games: vs. BKN (Mar. 20), vs. BKN (Mar. 22), vs. MIN (Mar. 24)
    • The Pacers hold the No. 4 seed despite Tyrese Haliburton missing five of the last eight games with a back injury.
  11. Milwaukee Bucks
    • 2024-25 record: 38-30
    • Next games: @ LAL (Mar. 20), @ SAC (Mar. 22), @ PHX (Mar. 24)
    • The Bucks have lost back-to-back games and are on the road for the next two weeks for their longest road trip of the season.
  12. Detroit Pistons
    • 2024-25 record: 39-31
    • Next games: @ DAL (Mar. 21), vs. NO (Mar. 23), vs. SA (Mar. 25)
    • The Pistons lost to the Wizards but secured a win over Miami thanks to a game-winner by Cade Cunningham. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games and are chasing the No. 4 seed.
  13. LA Clippers
    • 2024-25 record: 39-30
    • Next games: vs. MEM (Mar. 21), vs. OKC (Mar. 23), @ NYK (Mar. 26)
    • The Clippers have won four straight and seven of their last eight games. A tough upcoming schedule could determine whether they stay out of the play-in tournament.
  14. Minnesota Timberwolves
    • 2024-25 record: 40-31
    • Next games: vs. NO (Mar. 21), @ IND (Mar. 24), vs. PHX (Mar. 28)
    • The Timberwolves have lost two straight but are 8-2 in their last 10 games. Julius Randle has been instrumental, with the team winning 13 straight games when he plays.
  15. Sacramento Kings
    • 2024-25 record: 35-33
    • Next games: vs. CHI (Mar. 20), vs. MIL (Mar. 22), vs. BOS (Mar. 24)
    • The Kings have won back-to-back games against the Grizzlies and Cavs, maintaining a two-game lead over the Suns for the No. 9 seed. Domantas Sabonis is expected to miss 10 days with an ankle injury suffered in his second game back from a hamstring injury.
  16. Phoenix Suns
    • 2024-25 record: 33-37
    • Next Games: vs. CLE (Mar. 21), vs. MIL (Mar. 24), vs. BOS (Mar. 26)
    • The Suns have won back-to-back games and currently hold the final play-in spot in the West.
  17. Dallas Mavericks
    • 2024-25 record: 33-37
    • Next games: vs. DET (Mar. 21), @ BKN (Mar. 24), @ NYK (Mar. 25)
    • The Mavericks have lost four straight and nine of their last 10 games, dropping to the No. 11 seed and out of the play-in tournament.
  18. Atlanta Hawks
    • 2024-25 record: 33-36
    • Next games: vs. GS (Mar. 22), vs. PHI (Mar. 23), @ HOU (Mar. 25)
    • Dyson Daniels leads the NBA with 194 steals this season, well ahead of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 117. Chris Paul was the last player to record 200 steals in a season back in 2009.
  19. Orlando Magic
    • 2024-25 record: 32-38
    • Next games: @ WAS (Mar. 21), vs. LAL (Mar. 24), @ CHA (Mar. 25)
    • The Magic ended Cleveland’s 16-game winning streak but have lost three straight since and are 3-7 in their last 10 games.
  20. Chicago Bulls
    • 2024-25 record: 29-40
    • Next games: @ SAC (Mar. 20), @ LAL (Mar. 22), @ DEN (Mar. 24)
    • The Bulls have moved up to the No. 9 seed and would host the 9/10 play-in game if they maintain their position.
  21. Miami Heat
    • 2024-25 record: 29-40
    • Next games: vs. HOU (Mar. 21), vs. CHA (Mar. 23), vs. GS (Mar. 25)
    • The Heat have lost nine straight and are 11 games below .500. They currently hold the No. 10 seed, but their play-in spot is at risk if the Raptors, Nets, or 76ers go on a miracle winning streak.
  22. Portland Trail Blazers
    • 2024-25 record: 31-39
    • Next games: vs. DEN (Mar. 21), vs. BOS (Mar. 23), vs. CLE (Mar. 25)
    • The Blazers have won three straight and are now two games out of the final play-in spot, with the Mavericks and Suns within reach.
  23. San Antonio Spurs
    • 2024-25 record: 29-39
    • Next games: vs. PHI (Mar. 21), @ TOR (Mar. 23), @ DET (Mar. 25)
    • Sandro Mamukelashvili scored a career-high 34 points on 13-of-14 shooting (7-of-7 from three) in just 19 minutes against the Knicks, becoming the first player in NBA history to score 34 points in under 20 minutes.
  24. Toronto Raptors
    • 2024-25 record: 24-45
    • Next games: @ GS (Mar. 20), vs. SA (Mar. 23), @ WAS (Mar. 24)
    • The Raptors have lost two straight after winning six of seven, including a 40-point loss to the Suns.
  25. Philadelphia 76ers
    • 2024-25 record: 23-46
    • Next games: @ SA (Mar. 21), @ ATL (Mar. 23), @ NO (Mar. 24)
    • The 76ers are looking to keep their top-six protected first-round pick in this year’s NBA draft.
  26. Brooklyn Nets
    • 2024-25 record: 23-46
    • Next games: @ IND (Mar. 20), @ IND (Mar. 22), vs. DAL (Mar. 24)
    • The Nets are likely to rebuild next season and may explore trading Cam Johnson, who is averaging 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists over his last seven games.
  27. New Orleans Pelicans
    • 2024-25 record: 19-51
    • Next games: @ MIN (Mar. 21), @ DET (Mar. 23), vs. PHI (Mar. 24)
    • Trey Murphy III is out for the season with a torn labrum after a breakout year averaging 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists on 36% three-point shooting. The Pelicans will use the rest of the season to evaluate their roster.
  28. Charlotte Hornets
    • 2024-25 record: 17-51
    • Next games: vs. NYK (Mar. 20), @ OKC (Mar. 21), @ MIA (Mar. 23)
    • The Hornets currently have the third-worst record in the NBA and would want to stay bottom three to improve their lottery odds.
  29. Utah Jazz
    • 2024-25 record: 16-54
    • Next games: vs. BOS (Mar. 21), vs. CLE (Mar. 23), vs. MEM (Mar. 25)
    • The Jazz currently have the second-worst record in the NBA and would want to stay bottom three to improve their lottery odds.
  30. Washington Wizards
    • 2024-25 record: 15-53
    • Next games: vs. BOS (Mar. 21), vs. CLE (Mar. 23), vs. MEM (Mar. 25)
    • The Wizards currently have the worst record in the NBA.

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