The Indiana Pacers are likely to end up with the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference and a first-round homecourt playoff edge.
However, a great closing week of the regular season could push them to No. 3, while losing out could force them to start the playoffs on the road.
Among likely first-round opponents, Indiana lost the season series to the Milwaukee Bucks 3-1, and the Pacers led the Detroit Pistons 3-1.
All three teams have four games remaining. The Pacers and Bucks each have one against a team already eliminated from postseason contention, while all of Detroit's opponents are in the hunt.
Indiana faces conference-leading Cleveland twice, while the Bucks and Pistons play each other in the final two games of the regular season.
What teams make the NBA playoffs? Eastern Conference standings
(Through April 6; top six have qualified for playoffs)
| Team | Record | GB |
| Cleveland | 62-16 | — |
| Boston | 58-20 | 4 |
| New York | 50-28 | 12 |
| Indiana | 47-31 | 15 |
| Milwaukee | 44-34 | 18 |
| Detroit | 43-35 | 19 |
Orlando, Atlanta, Chicago and Miami are set as the play-in teams for the 7th through 10th seeds, though they are all within 3 games of each other. Each of those teams could finish anywhere in that group.
Pacers remaining schedule
Tue., April 8: at Washington, 7 p.m.
Thurs., April 10: vs. Cleveland, 7 p.m.
Fri., April 11: vs. Orlando, 7 p.m.
Sun., April 13: at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Knicks remaining schedule
Tue., April 8: vs. Boston, 7:30 p.m.
Thur., April 10: at Detroit, 7 p.m.
Fri., April 11: vs. Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Sun., April 13: at Brooklyn, 1 p.m.
Pistons remaining schedule
Mon., April 7: vs. Sacramento, 7 p.m.
Thur., April 10: vs. New York, 7 p.m.
Fri., April 11: vs. Milwaukee, 7 p.m.
Sun., April 13: at Milwaukee, 1 p.m.
Bucks remaining schedule
Tues., April 8: vs. Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Thur., April 10: vs. New Orleans, 8 p.m.
Fri., April 11: at Detroit, 7 p.m.
Sun., April 13: vs. Detroit, 1 p.m.
When was the last time the Pacers made the playoffs?
The Pacers earned the No. 6 seed last season and defeated the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks on the way ...
