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Pacers meet Bucks with playoff hopes fading

Apr 4, 2008 - 1:33 PM Indiana (31-44) at Milwaukee (26-48) 8:30 pm EDT

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) - Jermaine O'Neal and the Indiana Pacers know their playoff hopes are fading fast.

O'Neal and the Pacers continue their postseason pursuit on Friday when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks.

The 29-year-old O'Neal, who returned on Monday after missing more than two months with a bone bruise on his left knee, scored 12 points on Wednesday as Indiana suffered a 92-77 setback to the Boston Celtics.

With the loss, the Pacers (31-44) fell four games behind the Atlanta Hawks (35-40) for the eighth and final spot in the East.

"We are running out of time, we are four games back with seven games (left) so do the mathematics, we have to win out for us to (make the playoffs) but it is a situation that we put ourselves in and if we can get in it would be great," O'Neal said.

The Bucks escaped with a 110-109 victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, completing back-to-back wins for the first time since late February.

Charlie Villanueva had 24 points and 12 rebounds while Andrew Bogut also logged a double-double with 20 and 10 boards.