Two more are in.
The Hornets and Heat clinched Eastern Conference playoff berths Saturday night with the Bulls loss at the Pistons. The idle Hornets moved up to third and the Heat, losers at the Trail Blazers, fell to sixth. The idle Hawks moved up to fourth and are just percentage points behind the Hornets. The Hornets play at the Cavaliers on Sunday and at the Raptors on Tuesday, a tough stretch. The Hawks next host the Suns Tuesday.
The Celtics have a magic number of one to clinch a spot. The Bulls loss knocks them two games out of the eighth and final playoff spot.
In addition to the Hornets at Cavaliers, other key games in the East Sunday are: Wizards at Clippers, Bulls at Bucks, Pacers at Knicks and Celtics at Lakers.
Here’s a look at the East playoff picture:
c - Clinched Central Division
a - Clinched Atlantic Division
x - Clinched playoff berth
Eliminated from playoffs: Milwaukee, Orlando, New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia
