Reports of the Clippers’ demise were greatly exaggerated.
Despite low expectations coming into the 2024-25 season, the Clippers are headed to the postseason for the seventh consecutive year and will look to make a third-straight appearance in the NBA Playoffs.
While L.A. had to retool during the 2024 offseason, it has enjoyed the growth of Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac. At 35, James Harden has contributed at an All-Star level and Kawhi Leonard has rounded into form after missing the first 34 games of the season and easing into the rotation.
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The sum of all the parts is a battle-tested team with a one-of-a-kind home-court advantage. Like most teams, the Clippers’ playoff ceiling is dependent on matchups and circumstances. Here is an up-to-date look at how that is shaking out for L.A.
Clippers playoff scenarios 2025
The Clippers have clinched a postseason berth but have not clinched a spot in the NBA Playoffs.
However unlikely, L.A. could finish as high as third in the West. Conversely, it could finish as low as eighth, meaning there is a chance it plays in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
The Clippers’ tiebreaker situation depends on how many teams finish with the same record. L.A. sits atop of a potential four-way tie should it finish with the same record as Denver, Golden State, and Memphis, but a potential five-way tie with Minnesota complicates things.
In the event of a two-way tie, the Clippers have won the head-to-head tiebreakers with the Warriors (3-0) and Grizzlies (3-0) but have lost the season series with the Timberwolves (0-3) and tied with the Nuggets (2-2).
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Clippers standings 2025
| Seed | Team | Record | Games Back |
| 1. | Thunder – X | 66-14 | — |
| 2. | Rockets – X | 52-28 | 14.0 |
| 3. | Lakers – X | 49-31 | 17.0 |
| 4. | Nuggets | 48-32 | 18.0 |
| 5. | Clippers | 48-32 | 18.0 |
| 6. | Warriors | 47-33 | 19.0 |
| 7. | Grizzlies | 47-33 | 19.0 |
| 8. | Timberwolves | 47-33 | 19.0 |
| 9. | Kings | 39-41 | 27.0 |
| 10. | Mavericks | 38-42 | 28.0 |
| 11. | Suns – E | 35-45 | 31.0 |
| 12. | Trail Blazers – E | 35-45 | 31.0 |
| 13. | Spurs – E | 33-47 | 33.0 |
| 14. | Pelicans – E | 21-59 | 45.0 |
| 15. | Jazz -E | 17-63 | 49.0 |
X = clinched playoff spot
E = eliminated
Clippers remaining schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| April 11 | at Kings | 10 p.m. | — |
| April 13 | at Warriors | 3:30 p.m. | — |
Clippers potential playoff opponents
Given the range of spots the Clippers could finish, they could face a wide range of opponents in the playoffs.Â
Should L.A. finish in the Play-In Tournament range, its best-case scenario would be the seventh seed and a meeting with the Rockets or Lakers. It could also finish eighth and meet the first-place Thunder.
The Clippers could also face any one of the Nuggets, Warriors, Timberwolves, or Grizzlies in a potential playoff series.
