Danny Granger scored 25 points on Wednesday to help the Indiana Pacers clinch their first NBA playoff berth since 2006 with a 136-112 victory over Washington.

The Pacers needed a victory and a loss by the Charlotte Bobcats to Orlando to secure their postseason spot.

As Indiana's game ended, the Orlando-Charlotte game was in overtime, and staff at the Pacers' Conseco Fieldhouse put the game on the Jumbotron scoreboard.

Many fans stayed to cheer Orlando's 111-102 victory over the Wizards.

Paul George scored a career-high 23 points and Darren Collison added 15 points and 11 assists for the Pacers, whose 136-point total was their second-highest of the season.

The Pacers shot 60 percent from the field and the Wizards allowed the most points they have in a game this season.

"I'm just really, really happy for a lot of people," said Pacers interim coach Frank Vogel. "I'm so happy for our fans. It's going to be a fun ride."

Vogel had always talked as if he was sure his team would claim one of the Eastern Conference's eight playoff spots.

AFP

(China Daily 04/08/2011 page22)