The final month of the NBA regular season is here, and chaos is inevitable. With playoff races tightening, lottery odds shifting, and stars battling for individual awards, the league’s stretch run always delivers surprises. This season is no different. From unlikely tank jobs to MVP debates, these nine bold predictions — each crazier than the last — forecast how the last month of the 2024-25 season will play out.
Nine Predictions For The Last Month — Each One Crazier Than the Last
1. The Utah Jazz Will Win the Lottery Race
The 2025 NBA Draft is widely considered one of the deepest in years, headlined by Duke phenom Cooper Flagg. The play-in tournament has done what Adam Silver envisioned — kept teams competitive late into the season. As a result, the tanking race isn’t as bad as one might expect, considering the draft talent.
Four teams sit atop the lottery standings: the Jazz, Pelicans, Hornets, and Wizards. However, it’s becoming clear which team will finish with the worst record. The Wizards, under Coach O’Keefe, are showing fight, going .500 over their last 10 games. The Hornets have struggled with injuries but remain competitive thanks to their size. The Pelicans are slumping, but the Jazz have embraced losing at a different level. Utah has dropped 10 straight games, and the road ahead looks brutal. According to Tankathon.com, they have the second-toughest remaining schedule.
2. LeBron James Will Extend His All-NBA Streak
NBA insider Bill Simmons recently downplayed LeBron James’ injury severity after footage showed him jumping courtside during his son Bryce’s championship game. Yes, conspiracy Bill is back. Still, LeBron’s commitment to conditioning is elite, and he often recovers faster than his peers.
Initial reports suggested he’d miss one to two weeks. That absence matters — LeBron must play seven more games to meet the minimum 65-game requirement. If he does, he’s almost guaranteed another All-NBA selection. After all, he’s averaging 25.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game. Making an All-NBA team would extend his record to 21 straight selections.
3. The Phoenix Suns Will Make the Play-In Tournament
This prediction is driven more by the Mavericks’ injuries than the Suns’ form. Phoenix has given few reasons for optimism and faces the league’s toughest remaining schedule. Luckily, they sit just one game behind Dallas for the final play-in spot.
Dallas has a middle-of-the-pack remaining schedule but is riddled with injuries. It’s hard to see the Mavericks holding on. It won’t be pretty, but the Suns will scrape into the play-in. Still, it’s a disappointing outcome for the NBA’s highest payroll.
4. Quentin Grimes Will Drop a 50-Piece
Quentin Grimes has been a revelation for the struggling 76ers. A once-promising season has devolved into a tank job aimed at retaining their top-six protected pick, currently owed to Oklahoma City.
The 76ers’ injury report features eight or more players most nights. Grimes, buried in Dallas’ rotation earlier, is now thriving, averaging 28.6 points in March. The NBA has seen 16 fifty-point games this season — four from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Grimes nearly joined that list Monday, scoring 46 points in Houston. With the league’s fifth-easiest schedule left, Grimes will get another shot against weak defenses.
5. The Golden State Warriors Will Pass the Memphis Grizzlies for a Top-Five Seed
Since acquiring Jimmy Butler, the Warriors have gone 14-3 — though against mostly depleted opponents. Still, they’re racking up wins and closing in on the Lakers and Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies remain inconsistent, especially without Ja Morant. They’re 15-11 without him, and Morant continues to miss time due to injuries. That’s troubling as Memphis faces the ninth-toughest remaining schedule. Meanwhile, Golden State has the 12th-easiest slate and momentum on their side.
6. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Will Win MVP
Shai and Nikola Jokić are locked in one of the NBA’s best MVP races. Jokić is chasing his fourth MVP in five years but faces potential voter fatigue.
Even without that narrative, Shai’s case is strong. He leads the NBA in 50-, 40-, 30-, and 20-point games and tops the league in scoring at 33.0 points per game. He’s also remarkably efficient, averaging nearly as many points as minutes (34.4). His Thunder sit 12.5 games ahead of second place in the West.
Meanwhile, Shai’s consistency continues to amaze — 62 straight games with 20+ points. No one else has a streak even half that long. Unreal.
7. The Los Angeles Lakers Will Finish as a Top-Four Seed
This ties directly to the LeBron prediction. The Lakers were surging after the Luka Dončić trade, winning eight straight before LeBron’s groin injury forced him out against Boston.
They lost four straight without him before snapping the skid against Phoenix. The Lakers have the league’s third-toughest remaining schedule, making this prediction bold. Still, they often out-prepare opponents under J.J. Redick. As the roster gets healthier, expect them to secure their first top-four seed in five years.
8. The East’s Top Five Will Remain the Same
The East’s top five — Cavaliers, Celtics, Knicks, Pacers, and Bucks — should hold. Cleveland, Boston, and New York are locked in. The Pacers, Bucks, and Pistons are within a game of each other, but the Hawks sit five games back of Detroit.
This race comes down to star power. The Pacers boast Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. The Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. The Pistons rely solely on Cade Cunningham, who has played nearly every game. Detroit is heliocentric around Cade, going 2-3 in games without him. He’s set to play 65+ games for the first time, but any absence could solidify their sixth-place position.
9. The Toronto Raptors Will Make the Play-In Tournament
The Raptors remain unpredictable. Under Masai Ujiri, they zig when others zag. While most teams sold at the deadline, Toronto added Brandon Ingram, doubling down on their Scottie Barnes-led core.
That move blurred their draft intentions but signaled a desire to compete. Currently seventh-worst in the league, the Raptors can win games without major lottery damage. Realistically, they could win 10 of their final games and only drop a few spots in the lottery.
They trust their development regardless of draft position. Meanwhile, Miami — the East’s final play-in team — has collapsed since trading Butler, going 4-15. The Raptors are 6-4 in their last 10 and have the league’s easiest schedule remaining. Don’t be surprised if Toronto leapfrogs the Heat on the final day. This is a bold prediction because the Raptors are currently 5.5 games behind the Heat.
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