It all comes down to this.
After 169 days of NBA regular season action, the Eastern Conference has one undecided playoff spot heading into the final day of the season.
The situation is simple: if the Pacers win in Memphis or the Nets lose at home to the Magic, Indiana will make the playoffs. If the Pacers lose and the Nets win, Brooklyn will.
Here, for one final time, is how the playoff picture in the East looks going into the season’s final day:
8. Pacers (38-43)
Magic number: 1
Indiana nearly gave control of its playoff fate back to Brooklyn on multiple occasions Tuesday night, but managed to hold off Washington in a double-overtime win at home. Now the Pacers travel to Memphis for the second night of a back-to-back to end the season, likely needing one more win to secure a postseason berth.
9. Nets (37-44)
Tragic number: 1
The Nets have put themselves in position to need help with losses in three of their last four games, including back-to-back blowout losses to the Bucks Sunday and Bulls Monday, while the Pacers have now won six in a row after Tuesday’s triumph. Now they have to beat Orlando in Brooklyn on Wednesday night and hope coach Lionel Hollins’ old team, the Grizzlies, do them a favor and get them into the playoffs.