2025-26 NBA playoff chances: Boston Celtics climb rankings as Eastern Conference rivals tighten race for third spot

The Boston Celtics have moved up the ladder in the Eastern Conference. Until last week, the team was in the fourth position. Now, after their recent performances, the team has moved up to the third position. The Celtics have won 8 out of their last 10 games. Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard are among those who are leading the team to their victories. However, the race for the third spot has tightened up with the Toronto Raptors being behind the Celtics with a minimal margin.

The Celtics’ last win was against the Indiana Pacers. They will face off again immediately in the next game on December 26, 2025. Even though the Celtics started slow with three back-to-back losses, they managed to bounce back with three consecutive wins. Since then, even though the win-loss streak has been inconsistent, the team has managed to maintain the pace throughout until now.

Will the Boston Celtics qualify for the playoffs?

As per the latest change in the NBA rankings, the Boston Celtics are following a consistent roadmap for their championship run. The team managed to edge out the Toronto Raptors, who were in the third spot until last week. The Celtics team is currently occupying the third spot with a win-loss streak of 18-11. Their win percentage is .629 and they are also currently holding the third spot in terms of differential points. The team’s differential point is +6.0. At the top are the Detroit Pistons, followed by the New York Knicks. Meanwhile, the Raptors are also in the race for the third spot. They are not far behind in terms of the win-loss streak and win percentage. There is a higher chance for the team to recover their lost position if they manage to make up for their lost games in the future.


Jaylen Brown is the star performer of the Boston Celtics with an average of 29.4 points. In terms of rebounds, Neemias Queta is at the top and in terms of assists, Payton Richard occupies the first place within the team. With this consistency maintained, the Boston Celtics remain as a team with a high probability of making it to the playoffs.

Who are the other top performers of the Eastern Conference?

The Detroit Pistons are consistently occupying first place. Their win-loss streak is at 24-6. Their win percentage is also the highest, .800. The team’s differential point is +6.9, second to the New York Knicks’. Other teams that are in the top 6 are the Toronto Raptors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Orlando Magic. There is tough competition going on in the middle of the table with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat just behind the Orlando Magic team. The Washington Wizards are at the bottom and right above them are the Indiana Pacers.

Also read: 2025-2026 NBA playoff chances: Los Angeles Lakers’ recent setbacks raise questions about team’s roadmap

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