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The Boston Celtics currently find themselves outside of the playoffs thanks to their recent four-game losing streak. The team is now in fourth place in the Atlantic Divison, seven games behind the first place New York Knicks. Boston (14-17) is also dangerously close to falling to last place in the division, as the Toronto Raptors are only 2½ games behind the Celtics after winning their last three games.
The Miami Heat lead the Eastern Conference with a 22-8 record. The Knicks trail the Heat by 1½ games at 21-10, losing their brief hold on first place with two-straight losses. The Atlanta Hawks (20-10) sit ½ game behind New York thanks to an impressive 13-4 record against Eastern Conference opponents. The Indiana Pacers (19-13) are in fourth place, while the Chicago Bulls (17-13) sit five games behind the Heat in fifth place. The Milwaukee Bucks (16-14) are in sixth place, while two Atlantic Division teams, the Brooklyn Nets (17-15) and the Philadelphia 76ers (15-18), own the last two playoff spots in the East.