Will the Heat or Nets Improve Their Position

In Miami tonight, the Heat are playing host to the Brooklyn Nets.

With a win the Heat would build on their one-game lead over Indiana in the NBA's Eastern Conference standings, while if the Nets win they would close the gap between themselves and first-place Toronto in the Atlantic Division.

The Nets start the day 2 ½ games back of the Raptors in the battle for the top spot in the division.

The top two teams in the West have games tonight. The front-running Spurs of San Antonio begin play with a 4 ½ game lead over Oklahoma City. Tonight the Spurs are at Minnesota while the Thunder are playing in Sacramento.

The Atlanta Hawks currently hold down the eighth and final playoff berth in the East. They play host to the Pistons tonight and have a three-game lead over the Knicks who are hoping for a miracle as they continue to try and bump the Hawks for the final berth.

The final two games of the night have the Dallas Mavericks, who hold down the seventh spot in the West a half-game in front of the Suns, at Utah, with Houston's Rockets in L.A. to play the Lakers.