The most intriguing part of the 2021 NBA playoff race might be in the Eastern Conference, where four teams are separated by a total of 1.5 games in the standings. The New York Knicks (33-27), Atlanta Hawks (32-27), Boston Celtics (32-27) and Miami Heat (31-28) are all trying to secure a spot in the postseason.

With 12 games left on the regular-season schedule, the Knicks are currently the East’s No. 4 seed. The Hawks and Celtics are tied for the conference’s fifth-best record, trailing New York by a half-game. The Heat are the No. 7 seed with just one more loss than the Knicks.

That order could shuffle over the next few weeks, having a major effect on each team’s chance of making a deep playoff run.

Earning the No. 4 seed is key because it comes with a home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. A top-six seed puts a team in the playoffs at the end of the regular season. The team that finishes the No. 7 seed still has work to do to make the postseason, forced to secure a playoff berth in the new play-in tournament.

The No. 3 seed is all but out of reach with the Milwaukee Bucks (36-22) leading the Knicks by four games. Miami has a comfortable 2.5-game lead over the No. 8 seed Charlotte Hornets.

Head-to-head matchups between the No. 4-No. 7 seeds could determine the final playoff picture. The Knicks defeated the Hawks Wednesday to take sole possession of the No. 4 seed. After Atlanta hosts Miami Friday night, the loser will be the No. 7 seed.

Hawks All-Star Trae Young will miss a few games with a sprained ankle. If Atlanta experiences a brief losing streak without Young, it could ultimately force the Hawks to compete in the play-in tournament.

The Knicks are the NBA’s hottest team with eight straight wins. New York might be the league’s most pleasant surprise, initially projected to finish near the bottom of the standings.

New York last made the playoffs in 2013.

Miami might be the most dangerous of the four teams once the postseason starts. The Heat made it all the way to Game 6 of the 2020 NBA Finals with Jimmy Butler playing better than almost anyone inside the league’s bubble.

Boston could be turning things around after playing below expectations for much of the season. The Celtics have won nine of their last 11 games.

The Heat and Celtics will meet in a pair of pivotal games on May 9 and 11. Boston is scheduled to visit New York on May 16 in the regular-season finale.

Tyler Herro Miami Heat
Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball up the court against the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter at American Airlines Arena on February 28, 2021 in Miami, Florida. Mark Brown/Getty Images
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