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Pacers improve playoff chances with double OT victory over Wizards

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The Indiana Pacers' chances at a postseason appearance improved on Tuesday. 

Indiana narrowly escaped with a 99-95 victory over the Washington Wizards in double overtime, to earn their sixth straight win and maintain their hold on eighth place in the Eastern Conference. 

Tuesday night's matchup wasn't pretty basketball, with both teams hammering the basket with few results. The Pacers and the Wizards would finish the game shooting less than 40 percent from the field and sinking even fewer shots from beyond the arc. 

It may not have been beautiful ball, but Indiana got it done without even cracking the 100-point mark. C.J. Miles led his team with 25 points and eight rebounds, while George Hill posted a double-double of 24 points and 10 assists, including a clutch 3-pointer in the second overtime with 27.8 seconds left to increase his team's lead.  

George Hill! For THREE. Team basketball works guys. #NBA #Pacers #Wizards #WizPacers http://tvta.gs/video/13425

Marcin Gortat and Bradley Beal both put up 19 points for their team, with Gortat finishing with 10 rebounds. John Wall added 16 points and 11 assists, while Otto Porter Jr. racked up 10 points, including this rude dunk of Roy Hibbert. 

#BruhOttosLookAtRoy

Washington, who has already clinched the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference, kept the Pacers hustling for the victory, but failed to guard against Indiana's deep shots that proved to push the game into overtime.   

Clutch Paul George!

The Pacers head into Wednesday's matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies with their eyes fixed firmly on the eighth seed. With a victory or a Brooklyn Nets' loss, the Pacers would clinch the final Eastern Conference playoff berth.   

With Indiana's victory, the Miami Heat have now been eliminated from playoff contention. The Heat are now the eighth team in NBA history to miss the playoffs after reaching the finals in the previous season, according to ESPN.   

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