A breakdown of every remaining Heat playoff/play-in possibility

With the NBA stepping aside for a night to provide Monday’s basketball stage solely for the NCAA championship game, the league’s latest round of results offered the Miami Heat a sobering reminder of what is gone, what is slipping away and the work that still remains.

For example, with the New York Knicks’ Sunday victory over the Washington Wizards, the Heat were blocked from the opportunity to finish higher than No. 6 in the Eastern Conference.

And with the Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls also winning Sunday, it means Erik Spoelstra’s team could have to work all the way into Sunday’s season finale against the visiting Orlando Magic to determine when and where their postseason begins.

At 41-37 and No. 7 in the Eastern Conference, the Heat close out their regular season Tuesday night in Detroit, Thursday night in Philadelphia, Friday night in Washington and then Sunday’s finale at Miami-Dade Arena against the Magic.

The top six seeds advance directly to the best-of-seven first round that opens April 14. Seeds Nos. 7-10 play in a play-in bracket to determine the conference’s final two teams in that opening round.

So what are the scenarios ahead? Basically everything remains in play.

If Heat go 4-0: If the Heat win out to close at 45-37, they could still close at No. 6 if the Nets close 1-3 or 0-4. At 43-35, the Nets own the playoff tiebreaker over the Heat.

At 45-37, the Heat would be assured of no worse than seventh place, which would mean up to two chances in the play-in round to secure one victory to advance to the first round.

In the play-in round, No. 7 hosts No. 8 for the No. 7 first-round seed. The loser of that game hosts the winner of the Nos. 9-10 game for the No. 8 first-round seed.

If the Heat go 3-1: If the Heat go 3-1 to close 44-38, the only way they could get to No. 6 would be if Brooklyn loses all four of its remaining games. The Nets have a relatively soft close: home against Minnesota, at Detroit, home against Orlando, home against Philadelphia.

At 44-38, the Heat still would be assured of no worse than seventh place, at the top of the play-in tier.

If the Heat go 2-2: If the Heat go 2-2 to close at 43-39, the Heat can finish no higher than seventh place in the East.

With a 2-2 finish, the Heat could fall to the No. 8 spot in the play-in round if Toronto wins out, with the Raptors owning the tiebreaker. Toronto closes at Charlotte, two games in Boston, then at home against the Milwaukee Bucks.

If the Heat finish tied with Atlanta at 43-39 (requiring a 4-0 Hawks close) or in a three-way 43-39 tie with the Hawks and Raptors, the Heat would be No. 7, because of holding the tiebreaker over Atlanta (thereby giving the Heat the Southeast Division title, another tiebreaker).

The Hawks close at the Bulls, home against the Wizards, home against the 76ers and at the Celtics.

If the Heat go 1-3: If the Heat go 1-3 to close at 42-40, they still could retain seventh place if the Raptors go no better than 2-2, the Hawks no better than 3-1 and the Bulls no better than 3-1.

The Heat could fall no lower than No. 9 with a 1-3 finish.

If the Heat go 0-4: If the Heat lose their remaining four games to finish at 41-41, they could place anywhere from No. 7 to No. 10.

At 38-40, the Bulls not not only still could pass the Heat in the standings, but also own the tiebreaker. The Bulls close home against the Hawks, at the Bucks, at the Mavericks and home against the Pistons.

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