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Bulls, Pacers trying to stay in playoff race

Feb 27, 2008 - 1:44 PM Chicago (22-34) at Indiana (22-35) 7:00 pm EST

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) - Despite sub-par seasons so far, the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers are miraculously still competing for a playoff spot.

The Bulls and Pacers aim to improve their standing when they meet for the third time this season on Wednesday.

Despite losing two games in a row and three of its last four, the Bulls enter Wednesday's contest just 2 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia 76ers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Ben Gordon scored 25 points to lead five players in double-figures, but couldn't lift the Bulls to victory during a 102-94 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.

New additions Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes, who were acquired in an 11-player, three-team trade on Thursday, scored 17 and 14 points, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Pacers have also lost their last two games and five of their last six overall, but are only three games behind the Hawks.

Indiana was edged, 102-98, against the Toronto Raptors on Monday and has split the two previous meetings against the Bulls this season.

The Pacers claimed a 117-102 victory over Chicago on December 12 before suffering a 13-point setback at the United Center on January 23.