Enormous Consequences: Memphis Vs. Dallas Important In NBA Playoff Race

Enormous Consequences is a daily look at the most impactful games in the NBA's playoff races.

The NBA isn't quite to the point of the season where playoff positioning is the most important thing considering there are plenty of games left -- and therefore teams trying to just get in to the postseason -- but there are a few games on Wednesday night's slate where teams will be playing for both positioning as well as trying to secure a berth in the 2012 NBA playoffs.

The game with the most enormous consequences (yes, most enormous) will take place at 8:30 p.m. on NBA League Pass when the Memphis Grizzlies visit the Dallas Mavericks. The Grizzlies and Mavs are both currently sitting comfortably in the playoffs with the fifth and sixth seeds in the Western Conference, but a couple of losses paired with wins from lower seeds could place both out of the playoffs before the week is over ... making Wednesday night's game pretty important.

The other Western Conferences games on Wednesday night don't quite have as many enormous consequences. The top two teams will play in what should be excellent games against Eastern Conference foes as the Oklahoma City Thunder match up with the Miami Heat (8 p.m., ESPN2) while the San Antonio Spurs will play the Boston Celtics at 7:30 on NBA League Pass. The Lakers and Clippers, currently slotted into the third and fourth seeds in the West, will play each other at 10:30 p.m. on ESPN.

On the Eastern Conference side of the bracket, the Milwaukee Bucks will host the Cleveland Cavaliers in a rather important game. The Cavs have all but officially been eliminated from the playoff race, but the Bucks are less than two games behind the New York Knicks for the final playoff spot in the East -- and considering Jeremy Lin is out for the rest of the regular season, it's possible the Bucks could move into that final playoff spot before the week is over.

SPOILER ALERTS

Toronto Raptors at PHILADELPHIA 76ERS, INDIANA PACERS at Washington Wizards, Charlotte Bobcats at ATLANTA HAWKS, DENVER NUGGETS at New Orleans Hornets

GAMES FEATURING TWO TEAMS NOT CURRENTLY IN THE PLAYOFFS

Golden State Warriors at Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns at Utah Jazz, New Jersey Nets at Portland Trail Blazers