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Desperate Bucks take on sizzling Pacers

Apr 19, 2012 - 2:42 PM (Sports Network) - Time may be on the side of the Rolling Stones, but it's not for the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Bucks will continue their desperate pursuit of a playoff berth when they visit the Indiana Pacers tonight.

Milwaukee is 2 1/2 games behind idle Philadelphia for the eighth and final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference and has lost two straight and four of five games, including Wednesday's 121-112 road loss against the lowly Washington Wizards.

Monta Ellis had 31 points and six assists, while Brandon Jennings scored 25 and Drew Gooden finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds.

"Hopefully we bounce back from this one and keep it pushing all of the way until the end," Ellis said.

Milwaukee has five games remaining on the schedule and will open a three-game homestand over the weekend. It is 14-17 away from Brew City this season.

Indiana is headed to the postseason and is closing in on homecourt advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. It will begin a regular-season ending four-game homestand versus the Bucks, 76ers, Pistons and Bulls.

The Pacers, who are 21-8 in the Hoosier State, have ripped off six straight wins and are coming off Tuesday's 102-97 triumph in Philadelphia. Danny Granger scored 24 points and Roy Hibbert added 15 points and 13 rebounds for Indiana, which has won 10 of 11 games and is seeded third in the East.

"To come in and beat Philadelphia is huge for us because we are still fighting for a playoff seed as well," said Granger.

Indiana has beaten Milwaukee twice already this season. The Pacers haven't swept the Bucks in a season since 2006-07 and is 10-3 in the previous 13 meetings as the host in this series.