Week 20 of the 2024-25 NBA season is done and dusted so we’re looking into the notable moments with three big takeaways from the chaos.
NBA Wrap
We’re now only a month out from the play-in tournament and start of the NBA playoffs.
While plenty of front offices are quietly cheering for losses and making it as difficult as they can to win games, the championship contenders are trying to ramp things up.
The Boston Celtics ($2.88) have won four on the bounce to close the gap on the Cleveland Cavaliers ($4.60). Meanwhile, the New York Knicks ($31) are keeping themselves relevant with Jalen Brunson on the sideline. They’re still on the third line of betting to get out of the East at $11.
The Cavs’ last 20 games:
W-W-W-W-W-W-W-W-W-W-W-W-W-W-W-W-L-L-L-L pic.twitter.com/QpY5o2c2Du
— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 22, 2025
Over in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the favourites to win the NBA championship at $2.70. They’ve won five in a row, but it’s the Houston Rockets ($251) that are running the league right now. Still, despite their nine-game winning streak and 2nd seed, they’re way out on the eighth line of betting to win the West at $41.
Strangely, the Los Angeles Lakers ($9), Denver Nuggets ($11), Memphis Grizzlies ($81) and Golden State Warriors ($19) are all riding losing streaks as the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th seeds in the West.
3 Takeaways From Week 22
Giddey Up!
The Chicago Bulls are 31-40 for 9th in the Eastern Conference and $3.85 to make the playoffs. We’re at the point of the NBA season where, unless you’re a fan, there isn’t much reason to watch these middling teams.
Josh Giddey is enough on his own to make it worth tuning in right now, though.
He is on fire and finally adding some weight to the argument of why the Bulls traded for him.
TAKE A BOW, JOSH GIDDEY
15 points
10 rebounds
17 assists
8 stealsThe first player in NBA HISTORY with this stat line. pic.twitter.com/aNwzl7290f
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) March 23, 2025
Giddey dominated the Los Angeles Lakers to lead his Bulls to victory. His stat line against the Lakers is historic and impressive enough, but it also caps off an incredible 11-game stretch for the 22-year-old.
The 6’8” guard has put up 22.3 points, 9.1 assists and 10.5 rebounds per game in his last 11, shooting with a 65% true shooting percentage in the process.
Some referred to Giddey as a “non-asset” when he arrived via trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder. While he disappointed early in the NBA season, he’s hitting his stride now. If he can consistently use his size and skill set across a full season, he could still become a superstar.
Suns Rising?
Right now, this Kevin Durant and Devin Booker Phoenix Suns are one of the most disappointing teams in NBA history. They’ve not come close to reaching the expectation set for them with a premature end to the partnership looking more and more likely over the summer.
Booker mentioned “talent only gets you so far” following their loss to the LeBron James-less Lakers.
However, a big win over the Cleveland Cavaliers might inspire a strong finish to the NBA season.
They led by as many as 21 points over the Eastern Conference leaders. Defence has been an issue for this group, but keeping Donovan Mitchell to 2-18 shooting is something to hang their hat on.
Collin Gillespie, and rookies Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro have joined Durant and Booker in the starting line up.
The Suns are now 11-3, a 64-win pace, when Kevin Durant and Devin Booker play without Bradley Beal this season.
Phoenix needs to do whatever it takes to offload Beal this summer to properly build a title contender around Durant and Booker. pic.twitter.com/SCei5wIAHF
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) March 22, 2025
The superstar duo will always get theirs with the ball. Durant scored 42 points to go with six rebounds and eight assists in this one. Booker picked up 17 points with 10 assists. But in Gillespie, Dunn and Ighodaro, the Suns are surrounding Durant and Booker with hustle, defence, energy and activity.
At 34-37 for 10th in the West, the Suns are a long way off locking down a playoff spot at $6.35. They can’t afford another poor stretch if they’re to secure a play-in seed, and be playing well enough to be a chance of advancing should they get there. A big win over a top team in the NBA is a good place to start the revival.
Heat Cooling Without Butler
As Jimmy Butler and the Golden State Warriors make a run towards the playoffs as one of the form teams in the NBA, his former Miami Heat have lost 10 games on the bounce. It’s their longest losing streak since 2008 when the Heat won only 15 games all season.
Butler’s return to Miami is imminent. Based on recent quotes, he’s in for a frosty reception.
Jimmy Butler shrugged off his upcoming return to Miami on Tuesday and called it just 'another game.' pic.twitter.com/K5XAEtUqS7
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 23, 2025
He inspired one of the great NBA Finals runs as Playoff Jimmy became known around the basketball world. While the Heat rarely played with an elite roster throughout Butler’s tenure, he rose the ceiling. They’ve missed him this season to have 23 clutch-time losses – the second-most in the NBA.
Miami’s effort, hustle and toughness always put them in positions to win games, but they’re lacking the superstar quality to get over the line without Butler.
Jimmy Butler and the Warriors
– 15 wins
– 2 lossesMiami Heat without Jimmy Butler
– 4 wins
– 16 lossesyall ready to have that convo about who was the reason for their success the past 5 years pic.twitter.com/jxrkDrUmEP
— Miami Heatle 🔥🐬 (@HeatleMiami) March 20, 2025
The positive to all of this? They can earn a better pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Their pick is Top-14 protected and could be one of the only good things to come out of this season if they can land in the Top 10 in the lottery.
At $3.60 to make the playoffs from here, the Heat should be able to retool with a promising rookie next season.
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