The Pacers fight for home court advantage won’t come easy

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 09: Indiana Pacers players celebrate in the first half of a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 9, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 112-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 09: Indiana Pacers players celebrate in the first half of a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 9, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 112-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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Indiana Pacers schedule is tough down the stretch
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 09: Indiana Pacers players celebrate in the first half of a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 9, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 112-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Let’s examine how the final push for homecourt will look on the schedule for the Indiana Pacers and their competitors. With three teams fighting for the last two seeds that have homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs, it should get interesting.

With just a little over a week to go in the NBA season, we have officially entered into the homestretch, meaning we are about to get some FUN basketball. The Pacers have far exceeded expectations this season after many projected them to finish with a top-five pick after trading away superstar Paul George. But after an incredible season behind first-time all-star Victor Oladipo, the Pacers are in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference, and could potentially finish as high as the third seed, depending on how the rest of their schedule plays out.

With an extremely tight race between the new-look Cleveland Cavaliers, the young and scary, up-and-coming Philadelphia 76ers, and the Washington Wizards, each game from here on out is extremely crucial for the Pacers (and all of these teams, frankly).

Let’s take a look at the three teams Indiana will need to outdo over the next week and a half if they have any shot of getting home court advantage in the first round of the NBA playoffs.