NBA » Miami at Atlanta, Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Battle between likely first-round opponents in NBA playoffs. Both Southeast Division foes will have one regular-season game left the day after — Miami at home vs. Detroit and Atlanta on the road vs. Memphis. But entering weekend play, the Hawks were in control of the No. 4 seed with the Heat trying to hold off Philadelphia for the No. 5 seed.

NBA » Denver at Portland, Wednesday, 10:30, ESPN

The NBA regular season will be over when the final horns blows to signal the end of this game, meaning the endless permutation of playoff matchups will also be over. Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets are all but assured of the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed, but the Blazers could be as high as No. 3 or as low as No. 7 by the time they reach the magic 82.

Bold Predictions

1. Orlando will claim the No. 2 seed in the East

Caught up in a futile battle to keep Cleveland from claiming the best record in the Eastern Conference, Boston will stumble over its last two games, including a season-ending visit by the Wizards, who’ll assure themselves of the second-best spot in the NBA draft lottery with a victory. Rajon Rondo, the only healthy Celtic left, and the rest of his hobbled teammates won’t go quietly from the top of the conference, but in the back of their minds, rest before the postseason will be the prescription once they falter on Sunday against the Cavaliers. Meanwhile, the Magic, boasting Superman Dwight Howard, will triumph over their final stretch against non-playoff teams, ensuring themselves of home court advantage against every team but NBA title-ordained Cleveland.

2. A No. 1 seed will quickly fall behind in its first-round Stanley Cup playoff series

Yes, both San Jose and Boston have been the cream of their respective conferences in the NHL this season. But don’t ever forget this is the hockey postseason and almost nothing makes sense. Goalies get hot. Teams get injured. And a No. 1 seed can act as an anchor for a favored team as often as an intimidation factor for the underdog. San Jose — a perennial underachiever in the playoffs — knows this better than most. The Sharks have posted franchise-best point totals of 107 and 108 in each of the last two years yet lost both times in the Western Conference semifinals. And Boston understands the blueprint, too, because the Bruins almost pulled it off last spring. As the No. 8 seed, they took No. 1 Montreal to seven games in a first-round series before falling.

3. Stadium worries overshadowing D.C. United success

The next round of “Where will D.C. United go?” will begin in earnest after its audacious plans with Prince George’s County for a soccer-specific stadium were squashed last week by the county council, with an 8-0 vote against a mere study to figure out if a stadium was a good idea. To them, it wasn’t. Who does that leave? One Montgomery County official already said he’s interested, but it will be more intriguing to see if either Loudoun or Fairfax Counties in Virginia emerge as a possibility, and whose political grandstanding will have the biggest effect. The endless saga will overshadow United’s version of Friday Night Lights against New England, which will feature two of the MLS’ newest local talents, Montgomery County natives and former childhood teammates Rodney Wallace (D.C. United) and Kevin Alston (New England).

Player of the week

Chris Carpenter

You have to feel good for St. Louis Cardinals’ right-handed pitcher Chris Carpenter, whose laundry list of elbow and shoulder injuries could fill a book. He pitched in just one game for the Cardinals in 2007 before needing reconstructive elbow surgery. Carpenter finally returned last summer, but was limited to 15 1/3 innings before nerve irritation in his shoulder put him back on the shelf. He was a far cry from the pitcher who went 51-18 during his first three seasons in St. Louis, won a Cy Young Award and helped his team to a World Series title in 2006. Now healthy, the 33-year-old was dominant during spring training and that continued in his first start of the season last Thursday against Pittsburgh. He took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and combined with two relievers on a one-hitter during a 2-1 St. Louis win.

Five Up

1. Marissa Coleman & Kristi Toliver » Maryland seniors go No. 2 and No. 3 overall in 2009 WNBA draft.

2. Anthony Grant » Former VCU head coach doubles his salary at Alabama, with a seven-year deal worth $1.8 million annually.

3. Wizards season-ticket holders » Mercifully, the NBA season ends Wednesday, with Washington’s last home game Monday.

4. Emilio Bonifacio » The Nats traded Bonifacio in the offseason. He batted .571 in Florida’s three-game opening series sweep.

5. Denver Nuggets » They’ll finish the regular season as the No. 2 seed and as the only team in the West that can beat the Lakers.

Five Down

1. Bayern Munich » Franz Beckenbauer calls 4-0 loss to Barcelona “the worst football Bayern have played in their entire history.”

2. Russ Pennell » Reward for the interim head coach leading Arizona to the Sweet 16? A job at D-II Grand Canyon U.

3. Jason Campbell » First the Skins try to trade him. And now whispers are growing louder about their interest in drafting a QB.

4. San Antonio Spurs » With Manu Ginobili out for the season, the aging Spurs are done and title window is closing.

5. Being the coach’s son » Bad move by James Ferentz to be arrested for public intoxication. The Iowa center plays for his father.