NBA Guide gives you a daily look at all the games that matter ... and some that don't. The games on Tuesday's docket provide likely previews of the first round of the playoffs. This is quite odd, considering how many seeds remain at play. Wednesday will be the day of real moving and shaking. But that isn't to say Tuesday's slate doesn't matter. Ask Utah.
Utah at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 PM ET, TNT
With a win in L.A. and losses by Dallas or New Orleans on Wednesday, the Jazz can avoid a first-round date with those same Lakers. That would be ... optimal.
The only reason the Lakers would want to go full-tilt would be to ensure that they draw Utah, and to enact vengeance for a dominating February loss that, for a spell, reasserted Utah as dangerous. Of that, Utah has fallen apart as much as a 48-win team can.
It appears the Lakers will go all out, which could make this a fun game, whether it's a preview or not.
Boston at Philadelphia, 8 PM ET, TNT
Boston is locked into No. 2 and won't have Kevin Garnett or Ray Allen on the floor. Philadelphia needs to win and pray for a Chicago loss against Toronto Wednesday to avoid a first-round date with Boston. I'm not sure Philadelphia in fact wants to play Boston in lieu of Orlando; you'd think this might be the case, but the Magic happens to be pretty good, too.
Miami at Atlanta, 7 PM ET
Nothing but a post-game pizza party will be at stake as the locked-in-No. 5 Heat visit the locked-in-No. 4 Hawks. Speedy Claxton and Othello Harrington will play major roles, according to coach Mike Woodson. Nothing to see here. (The playoff series, however, will be something to see.)
