Anything is possible: Four outcomes Heat need for miracle playoff berth

The good news for the Miami Heat after Monday night: Their playoff hopes are still mathematically and technically alive. The bad news: This is not going to be easy.

ESPN.com's Hollinger Playoff Odds place Miami's chance of making the postseason at 4.7 percent with one game remaining. That's slim, but it's actually a fair improvement over the Heat's standing headed into Monday, when that number hovered closer to 1 percent.

But that's likely an overestimate because of the first domino that must fall Miami's way. The Pacers and Wizards play Tuesday night, but Washington, locked in as the fifth seed, has nothing to play for. Unfortunately for the Heat, they need a Wizards win.

Then comes the trifecta on the NBA's final day of the season. Miami needs the win against the 76ers. Not too difficult, although nothing is given. The Nets, who gifted the Heat this opportunity with a loss to the Bulls on Monday night, must lose to the lowly Magic. And the Pacers, on a back-to-back, must lose to the Grizzlies, who are fighting for playoff position in the Western Conference but are also battling injuries to some of their key players.

If it all clicks, then Dwyane Wade and company will have earned -- and possibly been destined for -- a first-round meeting with the Atlanta Hawks. Let the games begin.