We have to win are final two games to clinch. I don't think they care anymore. The goal was to get to the playoffs healthy. So looks like they will stick to the plan.
East Nos. 1-2: Heat, Pacers
With the
Indiana Pacers' win over the
Oklahoma City Thunder, a monster win over a great team, the Pacers have moved their magic number to one over Miami for the No. 1 seed in the East and homecourt advantage throughout the East playoffs.
Why Indiana has tiebreaker: Miami and Indiana finished 2-2 head-to-head this season after Miami's win Friday. But the Pacers' secured tiebreaker by conference record with the Heat's loss to Atlanta Saturday, 37-14 to 34-16. (Miami can only finish with 36 conference wins if they win out.)
Remaining scenarios:
If Indiana defeats Orlando Wednesday, the Pacers clinch the No. 1 seed.
If Indiana loses to Orlando Wednesday, and the Heat defeat Washington Monday and the Sixers Wednesday, Miami clinches the No.1 seed.
If Indiana loses to Orlando, and Miami loses to either Washington, Philadelphia, or both, the Pacers clinch the No. 1 seed.
The only way Miami gets home court throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs is if Indiana loses to Orlando and Miami wins out.
East Nos. 3-5: Raptors, Bulls, and Nets (No action Saturday)
Flip flop fantasia, the Raptors are back in front of the Bulls. The Raptors beat the
Pistons and the Bulls lost to the
Knicks.
Did Chicago toss that one so that they could get the four-seed and potentially face Indiana in the second round? It doesn't seem likely, but these are the kinds of weird late-season losses that make you wonder. New York had nothing left to play for and put the boots to the Bulls.
Either way it moves Toronto's magic number for the three-seed to two.
The Nets won Sunday over the Magic. They've clinched no-worse-than-sixth. Their magic number for the fifth seed is one.
Relevant games Monday: Chicago plays Orlando Monday. They should win that one, but they should have won the game Sunday.
Toronto has a back to back in Milwaukee.
A Raps win and Bulls loss and the Raps clich the No.3, Bulls No. 4 .
A Wizards loss and the Nets clinch the No. 5.