The Indiana Pacers might be turning things around at just the right time.

They have a chance to move into a tie for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference on Saturday when they close out their season series with the struggling Boston Celtics.

The Pacers (33-42) trail the Orlando Magic - who host the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday - by one game for eighth place in the East with seven games remaining. If Indiana is able to pull even with Orlando, it would come after a difficult 4-18 stretch highlighted by a season-high 11-game losing streak from Feb. 23-March 14.

The team was in fifth place in the East before that skid and appeared to be headed for its 10th consecutive playoff appearance.

Instead, the Pacers are trying to squeeze into the postseason, but also began a favorable stretch of their schedule that includes four consecutive games against conference rivals below them in the standings.

The Pacers took advantage of the first team on that list Friday, as Danny Grangermade 11 of his first 12 shots from the field and scored 32 points in a 112-102 win at Charlotte.

"We are on the ropes right now," Granger said. "We're trying to make the playoffs. We really needed this one. We have no room for error right now. So I'm glad I came out and helped my team win. I got into a rhythm and the coach was calling the plays for me."

Granger's performance helped Indiana overcome Jermaine O'Neal's struggles, as he shot 4-of-18 from the floor and had 14 points.

"We won a game we're supposed to win," said O'Neal, Indiana's top scorer and rebounder at 19.7 and 9.7, respectively. "Now we have another game we're supposed to win. Right now every game is a real crucial game for us."

Indiana, which plays at Philadelphia and Milwaukee its next two games, has won the last two meetings with the Celtics. O'Neal totaled 48 points and 23 rebounds in the victories after being held to eight points and 11 rebounds in a 114-88 loss at Boston on Nov. 15.

The Celtics (23-52), who have the worst record in the East, are coming off an 88-85 loss to Miami on Friday, their seventh defeat in the last 10 games. Gerald Green and Sebastian Telfair issed 3-point attempts in the final seconds as they tried to force overtime.

Lottery-bound Boston has been struck by injuries and it doesn't appear to be getting any better.

Paul Pierce, the team's top scorer at 25.0 points, has missed four consecutive games and joined Delonte West in street clothes on the bench Friday. Neither Al Jefferson, Brian Scalabrine nor Wally Szczerbiak were with the team, and none of the five players are expected to play against Indiana, forcing the Celtics to go with the NBA-minimum nine active players for a fifth consecutive game.

"When we were coming out for warmups it looked like we didn't have that much of a team," Celtics rookie forward Leon Powe said Friday.

Ryan Gomes scored 24 points Friday as he continues to take advantage of the increased playing time. The forward has averaged 18.0 points in the last three games, increasing his season average to 11.9.