The NBA regular season ended on April 13, and as it wound down, tensions were rising around the league as teams battled hard for places in the Play-In and the Playoffs. Every game is vital at that stage of the season, with even those teams already certain of progressing to the postseason concerned about confidence, seeding, and winning momentum as the playoffs get underway. 

Now that the dust has settled on these crucial games, players and sports bettors checking out the post-season betting bonus offers available on AskGamblers have been able to analyze those clashes in detail. So, what conclusions can we draw from the outcome of the most eagerly anticipated NBA games that took place in the first half of April? 

Cleveland Cavaliers 108, New York Knicks 102

On April 11th, Madison Square Garden was rocking when the Cavaliers hit the Big Apple, as both teams had been in hot form chasing a top-four playoff place in the East. This game was all about the super-disciplined Knicks, powered by Jalen Brunson, and with Donovan Mitchell sidelined for the Cavaliers, the home team had a great chance for a vital win. They led by 12 at half-time, but a 26-point game from Darius Garland proved the difference, as the Cavaliers carved out another win on their way to securing the top seed in the East. 

Memphis Grizzlies 109, Denver Nuggets 117

Not knowing what we know now, this April 11th game could have been a rehearsal for the Western Conference Finals. Fired up by the brilliance of Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets are aiming for a second NBA Championship in three seasons, but in this contest they faced a fast, dynamic Memphis Grizzlies team, featuring star player Ja Morant, and the physicality and speed that the Grizzlies bring suggested that they might not be as affected by the altitude as most teams.

In the end, however, it was the Nuggets who ran out as winners, off the back of strong performances from Jokic, Aaron Gordon, and Christian Braun, securing a top-four place and ensuring that the Grizzlies would have to enter the Play-in tournament. 

Houston Rockets 109, Los Angeles Lakers 140

The Houston Rockets have taken a big step forward this season, but this April 11th matchup with the Lakers was a huge test of their strength of character and readiness to take on the elite, and in the end, they wilted under the pressure. The Lakers led by 20 points at halftime as Luka Doncic finished with 39 points. For the Rockets, this loss was sandwiched between a 17-point loss to the Clippers and a 14-point defeat against Denver, which means they go into the playoffs with zero momentum. They may yet meet the Lakers again in the Conference semi-finals, but first they have to get past the Warriors. 

New York Knicks 113, Brooklyn Nets 105

Okay this April 13th match wasn’t so great, but the schedule makers loved to schedule the Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets to end their regular seasons with a crosstown clash in Brooklyn that may not have had any impact on the seedings for the playoffs, but was always going to be a feisty clash. After a fast-scoring first half, the Nets led by nine points, but the Knicks’ defense slowly ground their rivals down to finish with a comfortable win. New York finished third in the East and will take on the Pistons in their first playoff assignment, but they will have to overturn a 1-3 season record against Detroit if they are going to progress. 

Orlando Magic 105, Atlanta Hawks 117

Orlando Magic has been one of the surprise successes of the season, powered by the all-around play of Paolo Banchero, along with a resilient defense. Their final regular season match-up was against the Hawks, led by the dynamic Trae Young, who needed the win more than the Magic. That greater motivation, along with the Hawks’ experience, proved decisive as Atlanta dominated throughout to secure eighth place in the Conference. The Magic had the last laugh, however, as two days later they won 120-95 in the Play-In tournament to book their spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. 

Los Angeles Clippers 124 Golden State Warriors 119

The Los Angeles Clippers went to Chase Center for their final regular-season game, aiming to complete a rare sweep of the Warriors, having won all three of their meetings up to that point. Meanwhile, the Warriors, who had struggled throughout the regular season with defensive issues and a lack of bench depth, were looking for consistency with their relatively-recent acquisition of Jimmy Butler going into the playoffs (hopefully).

The result was a tense and entertaining game in which fans got to see James Harden and Kawhi Leonard tussling with Draymond Green, Steph Curry, and Butler. The teams were neck and neck throughout, but the Clippers edged it in overtime to set up a playoff tie against Denver. The Warriors were not down for long, however, as they edged out the Memphis Grizzlies in the Play-In tournament two days later to book their own place in the playoffs. 

The 2024-25 regular season ended with plenty of drama and surprises, but the real business will start in the second half of the month, as sixteen teams begin their post-season journey.