NBA Guide gives you a daily look at all the games that matter ... and some that don't. The East is basically settled, with Chicago needing a win over the Raptors to clinch the No. 6 seed and a date with the Magic. If the Bulls lose and Philadelphia beats the Cavaliers sans LeBron, the 76ers get No. 6 and Chicago falls to No. 7. No one can tell which scenario is preferable.
But in the West -- the West!, yeah -- there are preferences and jockeying and whatnot.
Denver at Portland, 10:30 PM ET, ESPN
The Nuggets need to win or watch Houston lose in order to clinch the No. 2. Portland cannot leap Denver, even with the win. But the Blazers can claim No. 3 with a victory and losses by Houston and San Antonio. It is advantageous to the Blazers that Houston's game will be ending as this one begins -- if Houston has lost, Denver clinches No. 2 and has little reason to play its starters big minutes.
The more important reason to fight for a win for the Blazers, though, is to avoid falling to No. 5, which is what would happen if Portland lost and San Antonio won. If Houston wins, Portland can do no better than No. 4.
Houston at Dallas, 8 PM ET, ESPN
The Rockets-Mavericks will have a lot of viewers from Portland and Denver, as indicated above. The Rockets can jump up to the No. 2 seed with a victory and a Denver loss. A Rockets loss would make losses by Portland (against what would be a motiveless Denver) and San Antonio requisite to land Houston at No. 3. Otherwise, the Rockets would fall to No. 4 or 5 with a loss, depending on the fate of S.A. and Portland. If one wins and Houston loses, the Rockets are No. 4. If both win and Houston loses, the Rockets are No. 5.
Dallas is the same situation as Philadelphia: they need to win and hope the current No. 6 (New Orleans in this case) loses in order to avoid the No. 7 seed. Of course, as we don't yet know who will be No. 2 or No. 3, it's not clear what real impetus there will be.
New Orleans at San Antonio, 8 PM ET
If New Orleans wins, it will be the No. 6 seed. With a loss and a Dallas win, the Hornets fall to No. 7.
San Antonio will reach No. 3 with a victory and a Houston loss. A Rockets win pushes S.A. to No. 4 (if the Spurs win and Blazers lose) or No. 5 (if the Spurs lose or Blazers win).
In basic terms, Denver controls its destiny over Houston, who controls its destiny over Portland, who controls its destiny over San Antonio.
Should be a blast. You can see the rest of the NBA schedule, which includes some lottery jockeying.
