NBA playoff picture: Pacers fall further behind Knicks, Bucks clinch spot

A loss by Philadelphia along with a Milwaukee win Saturday helped the Bucks clinch a playoff spot in the East.

Apr 7, 2013, 12:40 PM UTC

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The Indiana Pacers (48-29) had a prime opportunity to gain ground on the New York Knicks (49-26) for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference Saturday, playing the lottery-bound Washington Wizards (29-47).

For more on the story, visit Posting and Toasting, Indy Cornrows or Brew Hoop

Things didn't go as planned, however, as the Pacers sustained a double-digits loss and fell two games behind the Knicks with five to play. Whichever team earns the No. 2 seed will likely play the Boston Celtics (39-37) in the first round while the No. 3 seed will likely play the Atlanta Hawks (42-36).

The Milwaukee Bucks (37-39), who clinched at least the No. 8 seed with a win Saturday and a Philadelphia 76ers' loss, still have a small chance to move up. The Bucks trail the Celtics by two games and the Hawks by four games. Here are the complete Eastern Conference standings:

EASTERN CONFERENCE	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	CONF	DIV	STREAK	L10
1 z-Miami	60	16	0.789	-	33-4	27-12	35-11	13-1	W2	8-2
2 x-New York	49	26	0.653	10½	28-10	21-16	33-13	10-6	W11	10-0
3 x-Indiana	48	29	0.623	12½	29-9	19-20	30-17	12-3	L2	7-3
4 x-Brooklyn	44	32	0.579	16	23-15	21-17	31-15	9-4	W1	6-4
5 x-Chicago	42	33	0.560	17½	22-16	20-17	31-14	9-6	W2	6-4
6 x-Atlanta	42	36	0.538	19	24-15	18-21	27-21	11-5	L3	4-6
7 x-Boston	39	37	0.513	21	26-12	13-25	25-21	7-7	L1	3-7
8 Milwaukee	37	39	0.487	23	21-19	16-20	24-24	7-9	W1	3-7

Philadelphia	31	45	0.408	29	22-17	9-28	19-27	7-8	L1	5-5
o-Washington	29	47	0.382	31	22-17	7-30	15-31	5-10	W1	6-4
o-Toronto	29	48	0.377	31½	18-20	11-28	17-30	3-11	L1	3-7
o-Detroit	25	52	0.325	35½	15-23	10-29	21-26	6-8	L2	2-8
o-Cleveland	23	52	0.307	36½	13-24	10-28	17-28	3-11	W1	1-9
o-Orlando	19	58	0.247	41½	11-27	8-31	9-38	3-12	L4	1-9
o-Charlotte	18	59	0.234	42½	12-26	6-33	15-33	6-10	L2	3-7