The race for the top overall seed in the NBA playoffs is on.

The Oklahoma City Thunder topped the Miami Heat on Sunday, which was the first of two meetings over the next 11 days, it's the opening of what could be a critical stretch to determine who has home-court edge when the NBA finals roll around a few months from now.

The Thunder and Heat are in a virtual tie for second place in the NBA standings, 2½ games behind Chicago. The Bulls visit Oklahoma City next Sunday for the only meeting between those teams this season.

The two East leaders also have two head-to-head games remaining, one in Chicago and one in Miami.

Combined, the three front-runners are 60-10 at home this season.

NBA
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Phoenix Suns 108, Cleveland Cavaliers 83
Minnesota Timberwolves 117, Denver Nuggets 100
Atlanta Hawks 139, Utah Jazz 133 (4OT)
Boston Celtics 88, Washington Wizards 76
San Antonio Spurs 93, Philadelphia 76ers 76
Oklahoma City Thunder 103, Miami Heat 87
Portland Trail Blazers 90, Golden State Warriors 87
Memphis Grizzlies 102, Los Angeles Lakers 96

>>Bulls Battle Denver

(Chicago, IL)  --  The Chicago Bulls are on the floor tonight in Denver facing the Nuggets.  The Bulls have won four in-a-row, including a 102-101 overtime thriller on Saturday that saw Luol Deng tip in the game-winner as the buzzer sounded.  Chicago is 40-and-10 on the season.

>>Bulls' Noah Apologizes

(Deerfield, IL)  --  Bulls center Joakim Noah has apologized for his actions which led to his ejection in Saturday's 102-101 overtime victory against Toronto.  Noah was hit with a technical foul for displaying his dislike with the official's call for his foul on Andrea Bargnani.  He quickly drew his second technical and ejection for throwing the ball in the direction of the referee.