The Heat still hopes to secure home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, but it faces some stiff odds to reach the No. 4 seed.

If Milwaukee, currently fourth, wins two of its final three games, the Heat will be shut out of the fourth spot.

The Bucks will play New Orleans, Cleveland and Toronto, each a winnable game. If the Heat and Bucks finish in a tie, Milwaukee wins the tiebreaker by virtue of its 2-1 record against Miami.

If the fourth seed slips away, the Heat might prefer to finish fifth, where it would meet the Bucks -- and avoid the physical Pistons in a matchup of No. 3 vs. No. 6. That will require the Heat to hold off New Orleans. Miami holds a one game lead over the Hornets, with each having four games left. New Orleans will play Boston tonight, then Milwaukee, New York and Washington.