With a magic number of one, a win over the Heat tonight will officially punch Indiana’s ticket to the playoffs while tying the regular season series and adding another full game to the already existing three-game cushion between the two teams in the standings. A loss, however, will clinch the head-to-head tiebreaker for Miami and pull them to within two games of the Pacers.
In addition to the high stakes involved, this evening’s contest also has the potential to serve as a litmus test for both teams.
Whereas Indiana’s defensive rating has skyrocketed into the top five of the league since the All-Star break after languishing in the bottom third over the first half of the season, Miami’s surge in offensive efficiency has been equally dramatic.