All 10 playoff and play-in seeds, and the corresponding first-round matchups, are now set in the East while a wild finish is in the books in the West postseason race after a loaded 15–game NBA Saturday.
LAKERS CLINCH WEST NO. 3 SEED; CLIPS, TWOLVES, WARRIORS, NUGGETS INCH CLOSER TO TOP-SIX FINISH
- LA Lakers (50-31) def. Houston Rockets (52-29), 140-109: Luka Doncic unleashed 39 points in just three quarters, spearheading the Lakers to seal the West no. 3 seed and the Pacific Division title for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
- Minnesota Timberwolves (48-33) def. Brooklyn Nets (26-55), 117-91: Rudy Gobert tied his career-high with 35 points, pushing the Timberwolves closer to a playoff berth after demolishing the depleted Nets.
- LA Clippers (49-32) def. Sacramento Kings (39-42), 101-100: In a tight finish, the Clippers hang on to nip the Kings and record their seventh straight win.
- Golden State Warriors (48-33) def. Portland Trail Blazers (35-46), 103-86: Jimmy Butler led six Warrior players in double figures with 24 points, as Golden State handled business in Portland and nudged closer in securing the West sixth seed.
- Denver Nuggets (49-32) def. Memphis Grizzlies (47-34), 117-109: Nikola Jokic and a returning Jamal Murray joined forces in crunch time that capped off the Nuggets’ 15-point comeback against the Grizzlies.
The loss, on top of the Warriors’ win over the Trail Blazers, resulted in the Grizzlies clinching a play-in berth.
[ALSO READ: Nuggets complete 15-point comeback over Grizzlies to regain solo fourth in crowded West]
- OKC Thunder (67-14) def. Utah Jazz (17-64), 145-111: Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins combined for 67 points, and the Thunder scored a season-high 46 points in the opening frame en route to silencing the Jazz.
- Phoenix Suns (36-45) def. San Antonio Spurs (33-48), 117-98: The Suns finally broke free from an eight-game slide, dominating the Spurs led by Ryan Dunn’s double-double effort of 26 points and 11 rebounds.
- Dallas Mavericks (39-42) def. Toronto Raptors (30-51), 124-102: Anthony Davis fell three blocks short of a quadruple-double, posting 23 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists and seven denials in 30 minutes in a commanding Mavericks road rampage of the Raptors.
Anthony Davis was STELLAR tonight in the Mavs win!
— NBA (@NBA) April 12, 2025
😤 23 PTS
😤 13 REB
😤 10 AST
😤 7 BLK
Finished 3 BLK shy of a quadruple-double 👀
EAST PLAYOFF, PLAY-IN PAIRINGS ALL SET
- Milwaukee Bucks (47-34) def. Detroit Pistons (44-37), 125-119: Giannis Antetokounmpo notched his fourth triple-double in the last six games and the Bucks clinched the East no. 5 seed after seeing off the Pistons in Detroit.
[ALSO READ: Giannis’ triple-double powers Bucks over Pistons to lock up East fifth seed]
- Running It Back: With Indiana’s loss against Orlando, Milwaukee officially arranges a must-see East opening round playoff rematch with the Pacers.
The Milwaukee Bucks are facing the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs 👀🍿
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) April 12, 2025
WHO YOU GOT?!
- Cleveland Cavaliers (64-17) def. New York Knicks (50-31), 108-102: Darius Garland and the East no. 1 Cavaliers leaned on a strong fourth-quarter finish to turn back the Knicks, posting their 64th win of the season for the second-most in franchise history.
- 23 Years Later: Despite the loss, New York’s first-round playoff opponent is determined in the form of Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons. This will be the fourth postseason meeting between both teams and the first since their 1992 opening round clash.
🚨IT IS OFFICIAL🚨
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 12, 2025
The (3) Knicks and (6) Pistons will matchup in the first round of the playoffs. 🔥
Who wins and in how many games? 🤔
- Orlando Magic (41-40) def. Indiana Pacers (49-32), 129-115: With both teams resting their stars and other key starters, it was the Magic that rolled past the Pacers to pad their winning streak to five games.
- Atlanta Hawks (39-42) def. Philadelphia 76ers (24-57), 124-110: Trae Young soared to a masterful 36-point, 11-assist double-double to anchor the Hawks in securing the eight seed in the East.
Atlanta now faces the no. 7 Orlando Magic in the play-in tournament with the winner facing the second-ranked and defending champion Boston Celtics in the East playoff opening round.
- Chicago Bulls (38-43) def. Washington Wizards (17-64), 119-89: Julian Phillips fired a career-high 23 points in just 28 minutes to banner the Bulls’ fifth dub in the last games at expense of the Wizards.
- Miami Heat (37-44) def. New Orleans Pelicans (21-60), 153-104: Miami set a franchise record with the most points scored in a game with 153, handing the Pelicans their sixth straight loss.
For the second straight year, Miami will compete in the play-in tournament with the no. 9 Chicago squad waiting for them. Back in 2023, the Heat sent the Bulls packing to advance into the playoffs en route to a NBA Finals appearance.
- Boston Celtics (60-21) def. Charlotte Hornets (19-62), 130-94: For the second straight season, the champion Celtics reached the 60-win mark after crushing the Hornets.
