ANALYSIS : Close Races Spice Finish of NBA Season

The NBA moves into the final week of the regular season with much still at stake for some teams.

Utah could win the Midwest Division and face Golden State or Seattle in the first round . . . or finish third in the division and play the Lakers when the playoffs open next Thursday.

Boston and Chicago are fighting for the best record in the Eastern Conference, the home-court advantage until at least the NBA finals . . . and the chance to avoid having to play Detroit in the second round.

All 16 participants, eight in each conference, have been determined, so the remaining questions come down to positioning. Here are possibilities:

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Situation: Challengers for the Midwest Division title are San Antonio (52-26), Utah (51-27) and Houston (51-27), separated by one game.

The schedules: The Spurs play host to the Clippers tonight, are at Houston Thursday, at Denver Friday and close at home Sunday against Dallas. The Jazz play host to Sacramento tonight, Seattle Thursday and the Lakers Saturday afternoon on national TV, and finish Sunday at Golden State. The Rockets go to Portland tonight, are home for San Antonio Thursday, at Dallas Friday and play host to Denver Sunday.

Comment: The Jazz don’t have to play either of their two competitors and get the Lakers at a time when Mike Dunleavy figures to be resting his stars. Of course, this is the same Utah team that ended 1989-90 by going 1-3 and losing the Midwest by a game.

The tiebreakers: The Jazz have it over the Spurs and Rockets. The Rockets and Spurs are tied, 2-2, and play Thursday at Houston.

Situation: Phoenix vs. the best of the rest in the Midwest. Home-court advantage is at stake for the possibility of a best-of-five series of 50-game winners, the marquee matchup for the first round when No. 4 plays No. 5.

The schedule: The Suns (52-26) are at Denver tonight, home to the Clippers Wednesday, at Seattle Friday and home to Portland Sunday.

Comment: It’s an enviable schedule to finish with, but the Suns’ Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle are sidelined and Tom Chambers has a bad back. The possibilities are numerous.

The tiebreakers: The Spurs have it over the Suns. The Rockets have it over the Suns. The Jazz need one victory in any of their remaining games to clinch it over the Suns based on best conference record.

Situation: The Nos. 7 and 8 spots. Golden State (41-38) against Seattle (40-38). The former gets the Midwest champion, the latter what figures to be the much tougher draw of Portland.

The schedules: The Warriors play host to the Lakers Wednesday, are at the Clippers Friday and home to Utah Sunday. The SuperSonics were hosts to Houston Monday, are at Utah Thursday, home to Phoenix and at the Lakers Sunday.

Comment: At least Seattle’s journey for the first round will be short.

The tiebreaker: The Warriors have it.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Situation: The No. 1 spot for best record in the conference and home-court advantage at least through to the finals: Chicago (57-21) vs. Boston (56-22).

The schedules: The Bulls , are at Miami Wednesday, at Charlotte Friday and home to Detroit Sunday. The Celtics are at Detroit tonight, at Philadelphia Thursday, at Cleveland Friday and home to Atlanta Sunday.

Comment: Boston has three road games and ground to gain. And, perhaps for the entire week, no Larry Bird.

The tiebreaker: Chicago has it all but wrapped up, having split the season series, 2-2, but holding a three-game advantage in victories over Eastern Conference opponents.

Situation: The Nos. 3 and 4 spots. Detroit (48-31) vs. Milwaukee (47-31).

The schedules: The Pistons play host to Boston tonight, are at Atlanta Friday and at Chicago Sunday. The Bucks are at Washington tonight, at Minnesota Friday and home to Indiana Saturday.

Comment: The schedule favors Milwaukee. Detroit has lost four of six since the return of Isiah Thomas.

The tiebreaker: The Bucks have it.

Situation: The Nos. 5 and 6 spots, or who will play 3 and 4. Philadelphia (43-35) vs. Atlanta (42-36).

The schedules: The 76ers are at New York tonight, play host to Boston Thursday, are at Miami Friday and at Cleveland Sunday. The Hawks are at Orlando tonight, home to Charlotte Wednesday and Detroit Friday and at Boston Sunday.

Comment: Philadelphia has a realistic shot of going 3-1.

The tiebreaker: The 76ers have it.

NBA PLAYOFFS

The top eight teams from each conference qualify for the NBA playoffs and are seeded according to record. The Nos. 1 and 2 teams, however, must come from different divisions, regardless of record. Here’s how they would rank if the season ended today. WESTERN CONFERENCE Leaders 1. Portland: 61-18 2. San Antonio: 52-26 3. Lakers: 57-22 4. Phoenix: 52-26 5. Utah: 51-27 6. Houston: 51-27 7. Golden State: 41-38 8. Seattle*: 40-39 First round (best-of-5)Portland and Seattle Utah and Phoenix Lakers and Houston Golden state and San Antonio EASTERN CONFERENCE Leaders 1. Chicago: 58-21 2. Boston: 56-22 3. Detroit: 48-31 4. Milwaukee: 47-32 5. Philadelphia: 43-35 6. Atlanta: 42-36 7. Indiana: 39-40 8. New York: 37-42 First round (best-of-5)Chicago and New York Philadelphia and Milwaukee Detroit and Atlanta Indiana and Boston