Jakarta - The competition towards the 2025 NBA playoffs is getting tighter after a series of matches on Friday (5/4) local time created a significant shift in the standings, especially in the Western Conference which is still wide open for the fight for the final position in the direct playoffs or the Play-In Tournament.
From the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks appeared dominant when they beat the Atlanta Hawks. The victory brought the Knicks three games ahead of the Indiana Pacers to secure the temporary third position. Meanwhile, the Hawks' defeat by the Knicks also ensured that the Milwaukee Bucks won a playoff ticket, following the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Knicks, Pacers, and Detroit Pistons who had already secured their places.
However, the loss also sealed the Hawks' fate in the Play-In Tournament. Meanwhile, the Miami Heat, who lost dramatically in overtime to the Bucks, dropped to 10th place, half a game behind the Chicago Bulls in ninth place.
In the Western Conference, the Timberwolves maintained their lead over the Clippers and Grizzlies in sixth place after beating the Philadelphia 76ers. The Clippers, who also won big against the Dallas Mavericks, remained in seventh place thanks to a tiebreaker advantage over the Grizzlies. On the other hand, the Grizzlies' win over the Pistons kept them in the shadow of the two teams above them from eighth place.
The Dallas Mavericks lost a half-game lead to the Clippers, but remain in ninth place thanks to a tiebreaker advantage over the 10th-place Sacramento Kings.
As of now, two Western Conference teams — the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets — have already secured playoff spots. In the East, nine teams have secured at least a Play-In spot.