The Miami Heat moved into the No. 6 spot in the Eastern Conference after the Indiana Pacers lost to the Brooklyn Nets. This positions the Heat percentage points ahead of the No. 7 Pacers and 1.5 games in front of the No. 8 Philadelphia 76ers. The tiebreaker for playoff positioning could come down to the teams' head-to-head records, with the Sixers at 3-4, the Heat at 3-3, and the Pacers at 3-2 against each other. The Heat's upcoming games against the 76ers and the Pacers are crucial for their playoff positioning. In a pivotal matchup, the Pacers defeated the Heat, with the game starting with the Pacers leading 38-24 at the end of the first quarter. T.J. McConnell scored 22 points off the bench for the Pacers. This victory places the Pacers 1.5 games ahead of the Heat and secures the tiebreaker for them. The Heat's loss could potentially drop them to 8th if the 76ers win their game against San Antonio, as the 76ers have an easier schedule leading up to the season's end. Notably, the Heat struggled with 3-point shooting, going 0 of 7 in the game.
Heat will fall to 8th if 76ers - up 7 after quarter in San Antonio - wins tonight. 76ers with easy schedule. Pacers go 1.5 up over Heat and wins tiebreaker. Season ends week from today; 7-8 play-in would be week from Tuesday.
THE PACERS EDGE OUT THE HEAT FOR THE SUNDAY NIGHT WIN. 🙌 https://t.co/xNqXP5CYKz
T.J. McConnell up to 22 points off the Pacers bench. Heat down by 15 with 10:27 to play.
End of first quarter: Pacers 38, Heat 24. Pacers score 38 points on 16-of-24 shooting from the field and 4-of-8 shooting on threes. Heat is 0 of 7 on threes.
A lot is at stake when the Pacers take on the Heat on Sunday. https://t.co/63oOZehbcy
In this scenario the tiebreaker comes down to record in games between the tied teams. As things stand... Sixers: 3-4 (1-2 vs Pacers, 2-2 vs Heat) Heat: 3-3 (2-2 vs Sixers, 1-1 vs Pacers) Pacers: 3-2 (2-1 vs Sixers, 1-1 vs Heat). Miami and Indy play each other on Sunday. https://t.co/9IZ5oLFkQg
Pacers lose to Nets in Brooklyn, and the Heat moves into No. 6 in the East. The Heat is percentage points ahead of the No. 7 Pacers and 1.5 games ahead of the No. 8 76ers. Big games loom for Heat vs. 76ers in Miami tomorrow and vs. Pacers in Indy on Sunday.