PUBLISHED Monday, Apr 23, 2012 at 6:09 pm EDT

A look at three games Tuesday that will impact the NBA’s playoff picture

Phoenix Suns at Utah Jazz

The Suns did not do themselves any favors by dropping a 118-107 decision at home against the Denver Nuggets on Friday. They already faced a must-win in Utah tonigh, but now they also must beat San Antonio at home on Wednesday in order to secure a playoff spot.

First things first, though—beating the Jazz will not be easy. Utah has won three straight, averaging 117.3 points per game in doing so, and a win over the Suns will seal their spot in the playoffs. They also have the seventh-best record in the NBA at home, at 23-8, though the Suns can take heart in knowing they are the last team to defeat the Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena, on April 4.

“We’ve got to bounce back,” Suns guard Shannon Brown said. “We got to go to Utah, tough environment, tough atmosphere, tough team. We gotta win. That’s basically what it comes down to.”

Miami Heat at Boston Celtics
The chase for the No. 1 seed is all but over in the East, thanks to Miami’s loss to Washington at home on Saturday. The Heat need to win both remaining games, while the Bulls need to lose both of theirs for Miami to claim the top spot. If the Heat are a bit sanguine about losing the top seed, the reason will be right there in front of them on Tuesday—the Celtics are the No. 4 seed, and should Boston beat Atlanta in the first round, they are experienced enough to present a problem for the top seed in the second round, while the third-seeded Pacers are playoff newbies.

Boston is still in its own playoff rumble, because though the Celtics will be the No. 4 seed and Atlanta No. 5, the Hawks lead the Celtics by a game and would have homecourt advantage if that holds up through this week.

L.A. Clippers at Atlanta Hawks
The Clippers need the Lakers to lose to Sacramento on Thursday in order to have a shot at the Pacific Division title. That’s unlikely, but will not matter either way unless the Clippers can close out with wins in their final two games, in Atlanta and New York.

Don’t expect the Hawks to rest players in this one—as long as homecourt advantage in the first round is in play, they’ll keep pushing to stay ahead of the Celtics.