NBA playoff matchups revealed: Lakers challenge Timberwolves, Warriors play-in against Grizzlies

On April 13th local time, the 2024/25 NBA regular season officially came to an end. As the Eastern and Western Conference rankings were settled, the playoff matchups were also revealed.

Regular season standings

In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder took the top spot with a record of 68 wins and 14 losses, with the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers in second and third place respectively. The Denver Nuggets ranked fourth, and the Los Angeles Clippers secured fifth place after defeating the Warriors, advancing to the playoffs with the sixth-ranked Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies ranked seventh and eighth respectively and will face off in the first round of the play-in tournament. The Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks ranked ninth and tenth respectively, and both teams will also fight for a chance to advance through the play-in tournament. The Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz ranked eleventh to fifteenth will miss the playoffs this season.

In the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers took the lead with a record of 64 wins and 18 losses, followed by the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks. The Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks ranked fourth and fifth respectively, and the Detroit Pistons ranked sixth. Six teams will directly advance to the playoffs.

The Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat ranked seventh to tenth respectively and will compete for the last two playoff spots in the play-in tournament. The eleventh to fifteenth places are the Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards, all of which have ended their seasons early.

First round playoff matchups

The NBA also announced the 2024/25 NBA playoff lineup. The game will officially start on April 19 and is expected to end on June 22 at the latest.

In the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets will face the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round, while the Los Angeles Lakers will face the Minnesota Timberwolves. As the top two seeds in the Western Conference, the first-round opponents of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets will both be decided in the play-in tournament.

In the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics will face off against play-in opponents in the first round, the Indiana Pacers will face off against the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Detroit Pistons will face off against the New York Knicks.