Sam Hauser (right) of the Boston Celtics handles the ball during the game against the Orlando Magic on April 9, 2025 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. (Photo: AFP)
NBA 2024/25 season: A wild finish expected this weekend
The 2024/25 National Basketball Association (NBA) regular season ends this Sunday and many of the seedings are still up for grabs, particularly in the Western Conference, so a wild finish is expected this weekend. The top six teams in each conference earn immediate spots in the play-offs, which begin on April 19, but the other four teams that make up the top 10 in each conference will compete in the Play-In Tournament (April 15-18), to determine the last two play-off seeds in each conference, respectively.
With only 30 games left to play to conclude the regular season, the Eastern Conference is mostly decided. The Cleveland Cavaliers secured the top seed in the East on Tuesday (April 8) with their 63rd win of the season, beating the Chicago Bulls 135-113. Five other teams are guaranteed play-off spots in the East: the Boston Celtics (clinched second seed), New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Detroit Pistons, most likely in that order, while the Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Bulls, and Miami Heat are also locked into the Play-In Tournament for next week. This means that the season for the Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Toronto Raptors will wrap up this weekend.
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The reigning champion Celtics remain the JustBet favourites to win the East, despite missing out on the top seed and losing on Wednesday (April 9) night to the Magic but have looked more dangerous down the stretch than the Cavaliers. Boston and Cleveland met four times this season, splitting the games two each, with no win by more than seven points. The average winning margin over those games was 5.25 points so a ding-dong battle is expected if they both make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.
In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder locked the top seed a couple of weeks ago and appeared to be storming towards a 70-win season, only to be stopped in their tracks by the Houston Rockets last week Friday (April 4), then suffered their most devastating loss of the season on Sunday (April 6), to the Los Angeles Lakers (126-99). The Thunder avenged that loss on Tuesday (136-120), but their ambitions for a 70-win season had already evaporated after the loss to the Rockets.
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The Rockets, who clinched their first play-off spot in five years a couple of weeks ago, secured the second seed in the conference, following their win over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday (April 6) and the Lakers’ loss on Tuesday (April 8). The four other guaranteed play-off spots in the West remain undecided, and as at Wednesday (April 9), there were six teams separated by just two games: the Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Memphis Grizzlies. In fact, before the games on Wednesday (April 9), the Clippers, Nuggets, Warriors and Grizzlies all had the same 47-32 record and therefore the Western Conference play-off picture will not fully develop until after the final games on Sunday night.
Unfortunately for the Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers, and Phoenix Suns, their fates have already been sealed and their participation in the current season ends this weekend.
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As indicated, there are 30 games between today and Sunday — no game Saturday — and every matchup is expected to be wild. Some teams may elect to rest players in preparation for a deep play-off run but, with how tightly packed the teams are (particularly in the West), there will be some major jostling for playoff position. And even those teams who already know they will be resting after Sunday will have a substantial say in the matter.
That said, while there is a lot of importance attached to most games this weekend, there are a few intra-conference matchups that are expected to provide edge-of-your-seat action. Eight games in particular, four each day, promise to bring the heat:
Friday, April 11
Matchup Season Record
New York Knicks
vs Cleveland Cavaliers 0-3
Milwaukee Bucks
vs Detroit Pistons 2-0
Denver Nuggets
vs Memphis Grizzlies 1-1
Los Angeles Lakers
vs Houston Rockets 2-1
Sunday, April 13
Matchup Season Record
Milwaukee Bucks
vs Detroit Pistons 2-0
Cleveland Cavaliers
vs Indiana Pacers 1-1
Golden State Warriors
vs Los Angeles Clippers 0-3
Houston Rockets
vs Denver Nuggets 1-1
The rough-and-tumble starts with the Bucks and Pistons in the East this evening and ends with the Rockets and Nuggets in the West on Sunday night, and in between the NBA will serve up something for everyone’s appetite. Every game will have a playoff atmosphere, and the excitement promises to be electric. This may be the end of the regular season, but the best of the best will be standing at the other side of this weekend, ready to put their battle-tested bodies through a new battery of tests. Don’t miss the action!
JustBet continues to offer attractive betting options on all popular sports and events (including virtual games) as soon as they become available. Please visit one of the over 130 locations (or visit www.supremegames.com/#/prelive) for details and place your bets on the prediction of your choice for maximum winnings…… Get in the GAME!
NBA 2024/25 Winner
Team Odds
Oklahoma City Thunder 2.70
Boston Celtics 3.10
Cleveland Cavaliers 6.60
Los Angeles Lakers 15.00
Golden State Warriors 16.00
Denver Nuggets 23.00
New York Knicks 30.00
Los Angeles Clippers 45.00
Minnesota Timberwolves 60.00
Houston Rockets 90.00
*Only Top 10 odds shown (see website for full list)
Note: Odds are subject to change
