NBA Playoff 2014 Bracket & Standing: Pacers Beat OKC; Still Battling Miami for East Top Spot

On April 13, 2014, the Indiana Pacers was back in their usual solid condition by winning over the Oklahoma Thunder 102-97. The team seemed fully recovered and ready to begin the playoffs after the starting five were ordered to rest fully and miss one game. 

Lance Stephenson was the most valuable player of the game, with another triple-double performance to lead the NBA 2013-2014 season with five total. The team is aiming to end the regular season as the No. 1 seed in the East. They are currently No. 1 while defending champions Miami Heat is only trailing by half a game. The Heat took advantage of the opening that the Pacers gave with a 6-8 standing after the All-Star break in February 2014. 

According to Stephenson, they need to get the top spot in the east and they will treat the season finale like a playoff game. They always aimed to be at No. 1 since the start of the season. The Pacers hold a 55-26 record. They need to win over the Orlando Magic on April 16, 2014 or the Miami Heat should lose one game for matters to shift in the Pacers' favor. The Heat still has two more games against the Washington Wizards and Philadelphia on April 14 and April 16 respectively, according to a report by ESPN. 

Indiana has a 35-6 standing in its home games. One of the biggest contributors to the Pacers' much improved performance may be the adequate rest that the starting five received after taking four days off starting April 10, 2014. Their confidence further increased after winning against the Milwaukee Bucks despite the absence of stars like Paul George, David West and Roy Hibbert writes The Ledger. 

The Pacers are very positive that they will end up as the No. 1 seed within the week. According to ABC News, Scott Brooks, coach of Oklahoma City said, "In an 82-game season, you're going to have some tough times. Unfortunately for them, they're having it late in the season. But all it takes is a game or two to get back on."