NBA playoff matchups set: Lakers host T-Wolves, Pacers-Bucks rematch
The NBA playoff picture is complete following a frenetic final day of the regular season in which all 30 teams were in action.
The Eastern Conference standings were finalized following Friday's contests, but matters out West were decidedly more chaotic and required Sunday's final day of the regular season to determine the seeding.
The play-in tournament begins Tuesday and features the teams seeded seventh to 10th in each conference.
Western Conference play-in tournament
| Game | Date | Home | Away | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | April 15 | Golden State Warriors | Memphis Grizzlies | 10:00 p.m. |
| Game 2 | April 16 | Sacramento Kings | Dallas Mavericks | 10:00 p.m. |
| Game 3 | April 18 | Loser of Game 1 | Winner of Game 2 | TBD |
A loss in Game 82 saw the Warriors drop into the No. 8 slot, setting up a matchup against a Grizzlies squad that is just 4-5 since firing head coach Taylor Jenkins at the end of March. Golden State won the season series 3-1.
The Kings will be making their second straight appearance in the play-in tournament. Big man Jonas Valanciunas has been involved in every play-in tourney since its inception in 2020. The Mavs squeaked into the tournament but are 0-3 against Sacramento this season.
Eastern Conference play-in tournament
| Game | Date | Home | Away | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | April 15 | Orlando Magic | Atlanta Hawks | 7:30 p.m. |
| Game 2 | April 16 | Chicago Bulls | Miami Heat | 7:30 p.m. |
| Game 3 | April 18 | Loser of Game 1 | Winner of Game 2 | TBD |
The Magic nabbed the No. 7 seed after finishing the season on a 9-3 run and will host a Hawks team that has now qualified for the play-in tournament in four straight seasons. The Magic won the season series 2-1.
The Bulls, who finished ninth in the conference for the third successive year, will welcome the Heat to the Windy City. Chicago won the season series 3-0.
Western Conference
- No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 TBD
- No. 2 Houston Rockets vs. No. 7 TBD
- No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves
- No. 4 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers
The Thunder were the league's best team in 2024-25, reaching the 67-win mark for the first time in franchise history. OKC, along with the Rockets, will await the completion of the play-in tournament to find out its first-round opponent.
The Nuggets went 7-8 in their final 15 games but were still able to secure home-court advantage against the Clippers thanks to a victory on the final day. Health will be a focal point for both teams. Oft-injured Kawhi Leonard played in 13 of his team's last 15 games, while Jamal Murray is dealing with a nagging hamstring issue.
The Lakers' small-ball lineup will be tested against the gargantuan Timberwolves. Will Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid be able to survive the Luka Doncic pick-and-roll that undid the Timberwolves in last season's Western Conference final?
Eastern Conference
- No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 8 TBD
- No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 TBD
- No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Detroit Pistons
- No. 4 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks
The Cavaliers and Celtics will host the two survivors of the play-in tournament, but the real excitement might come from the two other first-round clashes.
The Knicks will hope to prove their playoff credentials against the upstart Pistons. New York went 1-3 against Detroit this season and finished 15-23 against teams with records of .500 or better.
Meanwhile, the Pacers will take their first step in attempting to replicate their run to the conference finals from a year ago against the Bucks, who were given a boost with Damian Lillard's return to basketball activity. Indiana lost the season series against Milwaukee 3-1.