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).
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.
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
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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 |
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