Despite a rough start to the season, Milwaukee is playoff-bound for the ninth consecutive year.
The Bucks bounced back from a 2-8 start to the season to win the NBA Cup in December, and on April 5, they clinched a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference with their 43rd win.
While Milwaukee has not missed the playoffs in nine years, it last won a playoff series in 2022. This year, the Bucks’ ability to make it out of the first round will depend heavily on the health of Damian Lillard, who remains out with a blood clot in his calf.
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Milwaukee could play one of three teams in the first round of this year’s playoffs. Here’s an up-to-date look at the situation facing Giannis Antetokounmpo & Co.Â
Bucks playoff scenarios 2025
The Bucks will finish no lower than sixth and can finish no higher than fourth in the East standings.
As such, Milwaukee will play in either the 4-vs-5 or 3-vs-6 first-round series. The Bucks’ chances to finish fourth are slim, meaning they are likely to finish as the No. 5 or No. 6 seed in the East.
Milwaukee’s seeding could be decided during a home-and-home with Detroit in the season’s final two games.
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Bucks standings 2025
| Seed | Team | Record | Games Back |
| 1. | Cavaliers – X | 62-16 | — |
| 2. | Celtics – X | 58-20 | 4.0 |
| 3. | Knicks – X | 50-28 | 12.0 |
| 4. | Pacers – X | 47-31 | 15.0 |
| 5. | Bucks – X | 43-34 | 18.5 |
| 6. | Pistons – X | 43-35 | 19.0 |
| 7. | Magic | 38-40 | 24.0 |
| 8. | Hawks | 37-41 | 25.0 |
| 9. | Bulls | 36-42 | 26.0 |
| 10. | Heat | 35-43 | 27.0 |
| 11. | Raptors – E | 29-50 | 33.5 |
| 12. | Nets – E | 25-53 | 37.0 |
| 13. | 76ers – E | 23-55 | 39.0 |
| 14. | Hornets – E | 19-59 | 43.0 |
| 15. | Wizards – E | 17-61 | 45.0 |
X = clinched playoff spot
E = eliminated
Bucks remaining schedule
Here are the remaining games on Milwaukee’s schedule:
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| April 8 | vs. Timberwolves | 8 p.m. | — |
| April 10 | vs. Pelicans | 8 p.m. | — |
| April 11 | at Pistons | 7 p.m. | — |
| April 13 | vs. Pistons | 1 p.m. | — |
Bucks potential playoff opponents
The Bucks will play the Pacers or Knicks in the first round of the playoffs.
If Milwaukee finishes as the sixth seed, it will be locked into a first-round matchup with New York. If the Bucks finish in fourth or fifth, they will play the Pacers. Milwaukee needs help to match Indiana’s record, but it holds the head-to-head tiebreaker should the two teams finish with identical records.
Given tiebreakers, where the teams are in the standings, and the home-and-home matchup, the Pistons would remain in sixth should the Bucks move up.
