The Pacers won’t know if their season will continue into the playoffs until Wednesday, the final day of the regular season. 28 of 30 NBA teams are scheduled to play then.
Indiana is trying to avoid missing the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. Sitting at home during the postseason would also sting for the franchise after they spent the last year celebrating its 50th season.
See Also: Pacers 2016-17 tickets highlight the franchise’s various looks over 50 seasons
Like this year’s bunch, the 2014-15 team’s playoff hopes went down to Game 82. Then, they lost on the road in Memphis, 95-84.
This year, however, the Pacers are at home for their regular-season finale and facing the Atlanta Hawks at 8:00 p.m. It’ll air on both FOX Sports Indiana and nationally on ESPN (Mark Jones and coach Hubie Brown on the call).
For the Pacers, who have won four in a row, to secure a playoff spot, their number is one. A win over Atlanta | OR Miami loss to Washington | OR Chicago loss to Brooklyn.
Indiana, Miami, and Chicago all have home games Wednesday.
Beat the Hawks — who will be coming to Indianapolis on the second night of a back-to-back after hosting the Hornets on Tuesday — and the Pacers are in…
Atlanta can clinch the fifth seed Tuesday by beating the Hornets at Phillips Arena. Lose both of their remaining games, combined with a Bucks win, and they will be seventh.
Pacers Playoff Scenarios:
- 6 Seed
- if Pacers win, Hawks lose to Hornets and Bucks win
- 7 Seed
- if Pacers win and Hawks beat Hornets
- OR if Pacers win, Bucks lose and Hawks lose to Hornets
- OR if Pacers lose and Heat and Bulls both lose
- 8 Seed:
- if Pacers lose and either Bulls or Heat win (but not both)
- ELIMINATED
- if Pacers lose and both Bulls and Heat win