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With O'Neal likely back in fold, Pacers resume playoff push

Mar 31, 2008 - 1:01 PM Miami (13-60) at Indiana (30-43) 7:00 pm EDT

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) - After a three-game run against potential playoff teams, the Indiana Pacers should welcome a visit from the league-worst Miami Heat.

The Pacers attempt to remain in the thick of the playoff chase when they face the Heat at Conseco Fieldhouse on Monday.

Indiana is seeking to return to the postseason for the 10th time in 11 seasons after missing the 2006-07 playoffs, winning five of its last seven games. It still remains in 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings, three games back of eighth-place Atlanta (33-40).

However, the Pacers' two losses in that time came to Western Conference-leading New Orleans and New Jersey (31-43), which holds a half-game advantage over the Pacers for ninth-place. After a seven-point setback on Wednesday to the Nets, Indiana held on for a 123-115 win on Friday against New Jersey.

With nine games remaining, the team could be further buoyed by the likely return of center Jermaine O'Neal, who has missed the last 34 games with a bone bruise on his left knee. The six-time All-Star is averaging 15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in 33 games this season.

The Heat figure to have trouble scoring many points, especially in light of Sunday's 88-62 loss against Boston. Miami made just 17 field goals - the fewest in the NBA's shot clock era - just 11 days after it set a franchise record by scoring 54 points against Toronto, the third-fewest points in NBA history.