League top gun Russell Westbrook put the Oklahoma City Thunder on his back with another sparkling one-man MVP-calibre show but it wasn't enough to improve their playoff hopes.
CJ Miles poured in a season-high tying 30 points, George Hill added 19 and the Indiana Pacers withstood Westbrook's career-high 54-point explosion for a 116-104 win over the visiting Thunder on Sunday.
"He's good, man," Miles said of the speedy All-Star guard.
"He's attacking every time he gets the ball but it's tough to make tough shots for 48 minutes."
The Pacers' fifth straight victory pushed them into a tie with Brooklyn (37-43) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East with two games left, after the Nets were blasted by Milwaukee 96-73, earlier in the day.
However, the Nets own the tiebreaker, should the teams finish with identical records.
"That's not fun knowing no matter how good we're playing, we're still relying on somebody else," said Miles, who will be cheering for Chicago to beat Brooklyn on Monday.
"But the big thing is to take care of business and give ourselves a chance."
Westbrook shot 21-of 43 from the field, 5-of-15 from behind the arc and 7-of-11 free throws to go along with nine rebounds and eight assists to match Kevin Durant's franchise-record scoring mark.
"Every night I go out and compete harder than anybody else in the league," Westbrook explained.
"As long as my teammates don't have a problem with it, I'm good with it."
Despite Westbrook's performance, the Thunder (43-37), failed to capitalise on New Orleans' loss to Houston, and the clubs remain tied for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.
The Pelicans own the tiebreaker should the teams finish with identical records.
The Thunder may be without Westbrook for Monday's home contest against Portland after their leader was hit with his 16th technical of the season, meaning an automatic one-game suspension and a 5,000-dollar fine.
However, Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks was feeling pretty good the league would rescind it and he'd have his top scorer available for another crucial contest.
"That's not my decision but I feel pretty confident about this one," he said.
Returned Pacers forward Paul George is one of the main reasons Indiana could do some serious damage in the playoffs and he is feeling confident in his team.
"We're still in the hunt. We're still going to be fighting and we have to handle our business," George said.
In Boston Isaiah Thomas had 17 points to lead seven teammates in double figures and the Celtics (38-42) took advantage of the Cavs (51-29) resting four starters, including LeBron James to crush the East No. 2 seeds.
The Celtics 117-78 win the most lopsided of their season, moved them a game ahead of Brooklyn and Indiana for the seventh seed in the East.
The Nets have their fate in their hands after a 96-73 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks saw the Bucks lock up their playoff spot.
The win marks a huge turnaround for the Bucks who just last season finished with a league-worst record of 15-67.
In the Western Conference San Antonio continued to show the form that took them to last season's title with a commanding 107-91 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
The win lifted the Spurs to second in the west and their eleventh straight win.
In other games the Washington Wizards beat the Atlanta Hawks 108-99, Dallas beat the Lakers 120-106, Detroit thumped Charlotte 116-77 and Denver defeated Sacramento 122-111.
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