So it comes down to this.  Three teams occupying positions 7 through 9 in the East, each with an identical 41-40 record.  Only today remains, and only 8 survive.  The situation came into fruition last night with Milwaukee?s victory over the Raptors, who could have clinched a place if they had won.  Indiana also defeated the Cavaliers in Cleveland, which made way for the current three way tie for seventh place.

Tonight Milwaukee takes on Detroit in Michigan, Indiana host the Philadelphia Sixers and Toronto will play Cleveland in Canada.  Should all three either win or lose it will come down to tie breakers, which the Bucks own over both the Raptors and the Pacers.  Should Indiana be tied with the Raptors Toronto holds the tie breaker.

If the Bucks win they will take the seventh seed automatically, and if they lose they need to prey that one of Indiana or Toronto lose otherwise their season is over.  Indiana must win to survive and even that isn?t assured, while an Indiana and Milwaukee win will see Toronto hitting the golf courses early.

"It's amazing," Toronto coach Lenny Wilkens said. "You play 81 games and it comes down to the 82nd game. We need to be ready."

"We still have one more," coach George Karl said. "There's not a lot of celebration. Tonight will be a night for preparation, rest and rehab. Detroit's a team that's not going to give it to us. We're going to have to go and get it."

While Toronto face a lottery team in the Cavaliers, both Indiana and Milwaukee face playoff teams in their final bouts.  Milwaukee, who earlier in the season were considered a favourite to take out the East, have the harder task out of the two playoff opponents, with the Sixers recently losing to Chicago in Philadelphia after the Sixers rested their stars including Allen Iverson, Dikembe Mutombo and Derrick Coleman.  Should they do the same against Indiana this could spell trouble for the Bucks.

"It's on us, but it's been on us for the last five games. We'll see what happens. If we win, we control our own destination," said Milwaukee forward Glenn Robinson.

The top three positions in the East are set with New Jersey, Detroit and Boston respectively.  Orlando, Philadelphia and Charlotte are jockeying for the fourth position in the East and home court advantage in the opening round, the Magic currently holding a one game lead over the other two.  Orlando is set to play host to Miami tonight while Chicago is at Charlotte.