NBA playoff picture: Teams jockeying for position

Each Monday down the stretch, we'll take a look at the upcoming stretch for each team mathematically alive in the East and West playoff races, and break down what they need to do to stay alive in the postseason hunt.

UPDATED THROUGH APRIL 25, 2012 GAMES

EAST

Bulls, Heat, Pacers, Celtics, Hawks, Magic locked in

The Bulls (49-16) clinched the No. 1 seed. The Heat (46-19) clinched the No. 2 seed. The Pacers (42-24) clinched the No. 3 seed. The Celtics (38-27) clinched the No. 4 seed. The Hawks (39-26) clinched the No. 5 seed. The Magic (37-28) clinched the No. 6 seed.

- If the Celtics win their final game (vs. Milwaukee) and Atlanta loses its final game (vs. Dallas), Boston gets home court in the first round by virtue of the head-to-head tiebreaker. (Boston went 2-1 vs. Atlanta.)

No. 7 and 8 seeds

The Knicks (35-30) and the 76ers (35-30) are tied for the No. 7 seed

- If the Knicks finish with at least the same record as the 76ers, they will earn the No. 7 seed by virtue of the head-to-head tiebreaker. (New York went 2-1 against Philadelphia this year.)

WEST

Spurs, Thunder, Lakers, Jazz locked in

The Spurs (49-16) clinched the No. 1 seed. The Thunder (47-19) clinched the No. 2 seed. The Lakers (41-24) clinched the No. 3 seed. The Jazz (35-30) have clinched the No. 8 seed.

- The Spurs owned the head-to-head tiebreaker with Oklahoma City. (San Antonio went 2-1 against Oklahoma City this year.)
- The Lakers owned the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Clippers, giving them the Pacific Division. (The Lakers went 2-1 against the Clippers this year.

Clippers, Grizzlies

The Clippers (40-26) trail the Grizzlies (40-25) by 1/2 game for the No. 4 seed.

- The Grizzlies clinch the No. 4 seed with a win against the Magic.
- The Clippers clinch the No. 4 seed if the Grizzlies lose against the Magic.
- The Clippers hold the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Grizzlies, winning the season series 2-1.

Mavericks, Nuggets

The Nuggets (37-28) are currently the No. 6 seed. The Mavericks (36-29) are currently the No. 7 seed.

- The Nuggets clinch the No. 6 seed with a win at Minnesota, or a Dallas loss at Atlanta.
- Dallas owns the individual head-to-head tiebreaker with Denver (3-1); Utah owns the individual head-to-head tiebreaker with Denver (2-1); Denver loses all individual tiebreakers.