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Pacers, Magic fight for playoff lives

Mar 30, 2007 - 1:41 PM Indiana (31-40) at Orlando (33-39) 7:00 pm EDT

ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) - As the Eastern Conference struggles to field six winning teams, the Orlando Magic would just like to finish with one of the eight playoff berths. So would the Indiana Pacers.

In a critical matchup, the Magic host the reeling Pacers on Friday.

Orlando holds the eighth and final playoff spot, 1 1/2 games in front of Indiana and New York.

After winning consecutive games, Orlando squandered leads late in regulation and in the first overtime in a 105-96 double-overtime loss at Boston on Wednesday. Grant Hill and Hedo Turkoglu scored 20 points apiece to pace the Magic.

Indiana has lost three straight and 15 of its last 17 games, putting its streak of making the playoffs in nine straight seasons in serious jeopardy.

To make matters worse, star forward Jermaine O'Neal missed Wednesday's 118-94 loss at New Jersey with ankle and knee injuries. He is questionable for this contest.

Indiana has won two of three meetings between the teams this season.

This is the first matchup between the teams since playing three times in a 27-day span in November and early December.