NBA Playoff Schedule 2012: Most Important Remaining First-Round Games

The postseason is already over for the Dallas Mavericks, and the Utah Jazz could be the next sweep victim by the end of Monday night.

For the rest of the playoff participants, though, the remainder of the first-round schedule includes more than a few games that will impact the rest of the postseason.

Even the one-sided series still have their fair share of crucial games. Whether those games have a chance of deciding first-round outcomes, they could certainly affect the outcomes of series still to come. The last thing favorites such as the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers need is a drawn-out series.

Here are a few of the games to keep an eye on this week.

Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Clippers, Game 4–Monday, May 7 (Clippers lead 2-1)

This could wind up being the first round's tightest series, but Memphis will almost certainly need to steal Game 4 in Los Angeles if that's to be the case. With a 3-1 lead, the Grizzlies would return home in desperation mode.

With the series tied at 2-2, Memphis would find itself in a three-game series with two of the potential contests in Memphis. 

The Clippers already stole the series' momentum after coming from 27 points behind to pull off a stunner in Memphis. Game 4 becomes the Grizzlies' last chance to definitively steal that momentum back.

Orlando Magic at Indiana Pacers, Game 5–Tuesday, May 8 (Pacers lead 3-1)

The Magic might not have a chance of coming back in this series, but even a win or two could cost the Pacers' valuable rest. With the Miami Heat likely to make quick work of the Knicks, Indiana can ill afford to get sucked into an unnecessarily protracted series with Orlando.

The Magic, meanwhile, have one last chance to pull off an unlikely upset without Dwight Howard around. This series might not have been worth watching, but this could be one good game to catch.

Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers, Game 5–Tuesday, May 8 (Lakers lead 3-1)

The Nuggets find themselves in a hole after losing another close one to the Lakers. Denver's home-court was enough to get them a win in Game 3 and a chance in Game 4, but it wasn't enough to ultimately tie the series.

That makes Game 5 do-or-die time for Denver, and George Karl's team will have to gut it out at the Staples Center. This series may be over for all intents and purposes, but Denver can still make it a bit more painful for a Los Angeles team that's not one bit eager to keep the Oklahoma City Thunder waiting.

New York Knicks at Miami Heat, Game 5–Wednesday, May 9 (Heat lead 3-1)

This game will be important for at least one reason: It's the last chance New York has to remain relevant in a postseason that's been most inhospitable.

It might also include the return of Jeremy Lin, creating a subtext that just might dwarf the game itself. Win or lose, the Knicks' last-ditch effort will be worth watching. Should they pull a most improbable upset, the stage would be set for an unthinkable Game 6 in New York with the series momentum nearing a 180-degree reversal.

Stay tuned.