Final day will decide some seeds, matchups
There will be final-night intrigue in the NBA.
The two remaining playoff berths will be decided, along with the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and the site for Game 1 of the series that starts this weekend between the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers.
TOP OF THE EAST
Boston controls the race for the top seed in the East playoffs.
The Celtics will be No. 1 in the East if they beat Milwaukee, or if Cleveland loses to Toronto. The Cavaliers won’t have LeBron James tonight, and are 0-7 this season when he doesn’t play.
Depending on perspective, James will either be resting, recovering or revving for the start of the playoffs. Cleveland can still be No. 1 with a win and a Boston loss.
BOTTOM OF THE EAST
Dwyane Wade helped Miami win three championships.
Now, he might help keep the Heat out of the playoffs.
It’s three teams — Indiana, Chicago and Miami — for the last two spots in the East field. Indiana (which plays Atlanta) and Chicago (which plays Brooklyn) control their destinies.
If the Pacers win, they’re in. If the Bulls win, they’re in. If either loses, the door opens for Miami.
The Heat would reach the playoffs with a win over Washington, and a loss by either Indiana or Chicago.
EAST MATCHUPS
The 1-8 and 2-7 matchups in the East cannot be finalized until today.
Toronto is the No. 3 seed and will face either Milwaukee or Indiana. Washington is the No. 4 seed and will open the playoffs against either Atlanta or Milwaukee.
Everything else is still up in the air. Depending on results, any of four teams — Indiana, Atlanta, Chicago or Miami — could wind up getting the No. 7 spot. And the Pacers might be No. 6, No. 7, No. 8 or out of the playoffs entirely at No. 9.
CLIPPERS-JAZZ
Utah hasn’t started the playoffs at home since 2001.
The Jazz could change that this year, if they beat San Antonio today while the Clippers lose at home to Sacramento. That’s the only scenario where the Jazz would be seeded No. 4 in the Western Conference playoffs.
Otherwise, the Clippers will get home-court for the first-round series against Utah.
All the other seeds and matchups out West for the first round are set: No. 1 Golden State vs. No. 8 Portland, No. 2 San Antonio vs. No. 7 Memphis, and No. 3 Houston vs. No. 6 Oklahoma City.
