Thanks to a three-game winning streak the Atlanta Hawks have pulled to within a half game of the Indiana Pacers for third place in the Eastern Conference standings. Atlanta defeated Charlotte for the second time this week Saturday night while the Pacers dropped an 86-72 decision to the Boston Celtics. Atlanta need only to catch the Pacers in the standings as the Hawks hold the tie breaker by virtue of winning the season series two games to one.
Elsewhere around the east Orlando snapped a five game losing streak by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers Saturday night. Philly has now lost three straight and are two games behind the Celtics and just one game in front of the New York Knicks.
| Team | W | L | GB | |
| 1. | Chicago Bulls | 43 | 13 | -- |
| 2. | Miami Heat | 39 | 15 | 3.0 |
| 3. | Indiana Pacers | 34 | 22 | 9.0 |
| 4. | Boston Celtics | 31 | 24 | 11.5 |
| 5. | Atlanta Hawks | 34 | 23 | 9.5 |
| 6. | Orlando Magic | 33 | 23 | 10.0 |
| 7. | Philadelphia 76ers | 29 | 26 | 13.5 |
| 8. | New York Knicks | 28 | 27 | 14.5 |
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