The 2025 NBA Playoffs are in full swing, and this year’s postseason is jam-packed with a cornucopia of All-Stars, powerhouse brands, and several surprise teams. As we enter the 2025 Conference Finals, find out who the best and worst squads are among the teams in the 2025 NBA playoffs with our special postseason NBA power rankings.
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1. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the NBA playoffs with a lot of confidence from having the best record in the league, but also a lot to prove. They received a good test in the quarterfinals with Ja Morant and the Grizzlies, but they weren’t tested. They got that in the semis as they had to scratch and claw through a seven-game series against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.
Many doubted this young and unproven team. Overcoming Denver gave them the big playoff game experience they desperately needed as they enter their biggest series of the year against the Wolves in the Conference Finals.
2. New York Knicks
The New York Knicks have been tested throughout the postseason. They had a very tough test in the Pistons in Round 1 and were chin-checked during a very tough and physical series. Then they were sizable underdogs against the defending champs and showed the front office was successful in building a team specifically to beat the Celtics.
They have the best clutch player in the league, a strong starting five, and are mostly healthy. After what they have shown so far in these playoffs, they are the favorite to reach the Finals from the East for a good reason.
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3. Minnesota Timberwolves
Despite the good fortune in the semis, many around the league believe Anthony Edwards can lead the Wolves to their first NBA Finals trip this spring.
4. Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers were one of the best teams in the league in the second half, and they have continued that impressive play in the postseason. They needed just five games to send Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks packing. And five more to punch a ticket to the East Finals for the second straight year. The Pacers are rolling right now. The big question is, are they a serious threat to reach the NBA Finals, or a team that has benefited from injuries to their opponents in the first two rounds?
5. Denver Nuggets
When you have the best player on the planet, Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets will always be a very competitive squad. The roster has rallied after Michael Malone’s shocking firing and overcame the Clippers in Round 1. However, life got more difficult with the No. 1-seeded Thunder.
Despite forcing a Game 7, Denver had their doors blown off and was ousted again in the semifinals. It was not the result they hoped for. However, one clear positive that should come out of their playoff run is that interim head coach David Adelman showed he deserves serious consideration to hold on to the role full-time.
6. Boston Celtics
The defending champion Boston Celtics didn’t have the best record in the NBA, but many assumed they would be able to get back to championship form once the playoffs kicked off. And that happened in the quarterfinals against the Magic as they ran through them in just five games. However, it was a very different story against the Knicks.
Some might suggest Jayson Tatum’s season-ending injury in Game 5 was why they lost. But New York surprisingly took a clean 3-1 lead with him healthy, and won twice in Boston. It was a frustrating end to a season that will be the final time this memorable group plays together.
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7. Golden State Warriors
Entering this year’s NBA playoffs, the Golden State Warriors were considered a serious dark horse to go all the way. And after storming through the Play-In tourney and beating the two-seeded Rockets, they looked like they could be the team to beat out West. However, Stephen Curry’s first-ever hamstring injury came at the worst possible time.
His absence for much of the series, unsurprisingly, was a massive void the Warriors could not overcome. They lost Games 2 through 5 and were sent home for the summer earlier than many expected. Nevertheless, while their top stars are in the final years of their career, Golden State should be elite in the West next season — if they can stay healthy.
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8. Cleveland Cavaliers
Similar to OKC, the Cleveland Cavaliers began the NBA Playoffs with the best record in their respective conference, but a lot to prove. And they did that in Round 1 when they obliterated the Heat in just four games. However, in a winnable series against the Pacers, they have been absolutely decimated by injuries to many of their top players, including Donovan Mitchell. It played a huge role in their surprising semifinal elimination in just five games.
9. Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets have been one of the best stories in the NBA this season. After showing some very nice growth under Ime Udoka in 2023-24, they continued that momentum and evolved into an elite team in the West. They passed on making big trades to see how this young group handles itself in the playoffs.
This spring, they got the ultimate test in the Warriors. However, despite the massive postseason experience gap between them and Golden State, the Rockets nearly overcame their future Hall of Famer foes. While it was a disappointing end to the season, Houston has a strong core and the assets to go and get a big-time impact player this summer.
10. Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons were the worst team in the NBA last season. But this season, they were the feel-good story of the year. Heading to the NBA playoffs, many believed they could score a quarterfinals upset over the Knicks. While they didn’t advance, pushing New York to six games proved that Detroit needs to be taken seriously going forward.
Like the Rockets, the Pistons have the core pieces of a very competitive team, but also the assets to go All-Star hunting this offseason.
11. Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers were an interesting story in the 2024-25 NBA season. To the surprise of no one, Kawhi Leonard began the season in dress clothes due to another injury. However, in his absence, Norman Powell emerged and earned All-Star honors for the first time. With all of their veteran depth and a very good head coach, they had a very good chance of upending Jokic and the Nuggets in Round 1.
Unfortunately, they came up short in Game 7. This will be an interesting offseason for LA with Harden possibly heading elsewhere and potential trade rumors that could circle Leonard.
12. Los Angeles Lakers
At the start of the postseason, the Los Angeles Lakers were a popular dark horse pick in the West. And why not? They have an NBA icon in LeBron James, a top-five player in Luka Doncic, and an impressive young coach with JJ Reddick. Yet, the West’s dark horse pick got matched up with the conference’s sleeper team in the Timberwolves.
That proved to be fatal as Minnesota had the best player on either team — Anthony Edwards — and he dominated en route to sending the Lakers packing in just five games. This was a very disappointing spring for LA after making one of the biggest trades in league history for Doncic in February.
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13. Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks have been on a roller-coaster ride all season. And the last few weeks have been no different. They feared they might be with Damian Lillard in the quarters, but the future Hall of Famer made a miraculous comeback in their series against Indiana. Only to tear his Achilles. Then they had a Game 5 win in their grasp, only to collapse in the final minute. Milwaukee will have a lot to think about this offseason after a third straight first-round elimination despite having, arguably, the best player on the planet.
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14. Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies were expected to be far better this season with superstar Ja Morant back. And they were, for the most part. However, a late-season slump had many wondering if their playoff run would be short-lived. Unfortunately for Grizzlies fans, they got the worst matchup in Round 1 against Oklahoma City. An elite squad that smashed its way through Memphis in just four games.
Memphis will need to find a new head coach this summer and decide if they want to go big and get another star to go alongside Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., or move on from their troublesome top star.
15. Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic dealt with notable injuries throughout the season, but battled through using their elite defense. However, just like last season, scoring — especially from behind the arc — bedeviled them during the year. In the playoffs, they were matched up with the Celtics, and to the surprise of no one, Boston became a challenge they could not overcome.
Orlando passed on making big, bold moves last summer. But if they want to be taken seriously in the East, they will need to be aggressive to add some huge impact players in the offseason.
16. Miami Heat
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra again showed why he is among the best in the sport during the regular season. Despite the dark cloud that Jimmy Butler created over the team with his contract drama, the Heat remained competitive for much of the year. Once Butler was sent packing, and they didn’t get equal value back; they understandably dipped in performance.
While they stormed through the Play-In, they were soundly dominated by the Cavaliers in the playoffs. Expect Miami to be aggressive in the summer to add a star to bring them back to relevancy next season.
