The 2025 NBA Playoffs are set, and the Eastern Conference features a balanced mix of rising contenders, proven champions, and battle-hardened underdogs.
With multiple 50-win teams and a wide-open Play-In picture, the road to the Finals promises to be a thriller.
#1 Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18) enter as the top seed after their first 60-win season since 2010. The Cavs are back with a vengeance following last year’s semifinals loss to Boston, looking to finally break through to the top of the East.
#2 Boston Celtics (61-21) are the defending NBA champions and join Cleveland with back-to-back 60-win seasons. The Celtics are aiming to repeat and remind the league why they’ve been the gold standard in the East the past few years.
#3 New York Knicks (51-31) have clinched back-to-back 50-win seasons for the first time since the early 1990s. After falling short in the East semifinals against Indiana last year, the Knicks are hungry to take that next step.
#4 Indiana Pacers (50-32) are back with their first 50-win campaign since 2014, and expectations are high following a deep run to the East Finals last season, where they lost to Boston. With a potent offense and playoff experience, they’re a real threat.
#5 Milwaukee Bucks (48-34) might be under the radar, but they’ve already got hardware to show for this year—winning the NBA Cup. However, they haven’t made it out of the first round since 2022, and pressure is mounting for a deeper postseason run.
#6 Detroit Pistons (44-38) are the Cinderella story of the East, surging from an NBA-worst 14-win season last year to their first playoff berth since 2019. Their rise is one of the most impressive turnarounds in recent history.
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Play-In Tournament
#7 Orlando Magic (41-41) are in the Play-In after a rather disappointing .500 season. They’ll look to avenge last year’s first-round exit to Cleveland, but they’ll first need to survive the Play-In to get there.
#8 Atlanta Hawks (40-42) will try to shake off last year’s disappointment, where they lost in the Play-In to Chicago. They’ll have to navigate the same path again, this time from the eighth seed.
#9 Chicago Bulls (39-43) return to the Play-In as well. Last year, they beat Atlanta but fell to Miami in the final Play-In game. This time, they’ll look to finish the job and return to the playoffs proper.
#10 Miami Heat (37-45) may be lower in the standings, but they’re no strangers to postseason grit. The Heat navigated the Play-In last year and reached the first round, where they fell to Boston. They'll try to pull off another underdog run from the tenth spot.
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[Editor's note: This article was generated by a member of the One Sports Digital team using AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]
