Celtics game April 5 is big

The Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers are approaching the end of the regular season from opposite directions, but each team has a sense of desperation.

The Cavs are trying to recapture first place in the NBA Eastestern Conference. But on a big-picture scale they are trying to regain that swagger that made them league champion a year ago.

The Pacers are trying to grab the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. After games April 2, the Heat owns the final playoff spot with a 3740 mark. The Pacers are also 37-40.

The race for the final playoff spot is obviously too close to call with five games remaining, but Pacers head coach Nate McMillan knows what his team has to do.

“Right now, we’re on the outside looking in,” McMillan said.

“We’re going to have to win out. We’re going to need some help from some other teams. You take that approach ‘one game at a time’ and you try to win every game. It’s important we try to do that.”

The game with the Pacers was the first in April for the Cavaliers, who were very happy to say good-bye to March.

The Cavs were 7-10 last month, and although they dominated on March 31 while destroying the Philadelphia 76ers, 122-105, Coach Tyronn Lue wants to see more before being convinced the rocky days are in his rear view mirror.

“(I want to see us) continue to get better defensively going down the stretch,” Lue said before the game with the Pacers. “Offensively, continue to pay with pace and play the way we’re capable of playing and get guys back healthy. That’s about it.

“We’ve been playing decent offensively as far as moving the basketball. We had 30 assists the last game. But we have to get back playing with that pace. That’s when we’re at

our best.” The Cavaliers began their game with the Pacers tied with the Celtics in the loss column with 27, but two games behind Boston in the win column. The Celtics beat the Knicks earlier in the day to win for the 50th time this season.

Here is how each team finishes the year: CAVALIERS » Orlando at home on April 4, at Boston on April 5, home to Atlanta on April 7, at Atlanta on April 9, at Miami on April 10 and home to Toronto April 12.

Orlando is the only opponent not in playoff contention. CELTICS » Cavaliers at home on April 5, at Atlanta on April 6, at Charlotte on April 8, home to Brooklyn on April 10 and home to Milwaukee on April 12.

Charlotte is 10th in the East, but only one game out of the last playoff spot. Brooklyn has the worst record in the NBA.

That game April 5 in Boston could be for the conference championship, which means it could be for homecourt advantage if the Cavs and Celtics meet for the conference championship.

The Cavaliers are 3-0 against the Celtics this year and 15-1 against the Atlantic Division.

Korver update

Cavaliers guard Kyle Korver missed his fourth straight game and 11th in 14 because of a sore left foot when the Cavs played the Pacers on April 2.

There is no timetable for his return.

Korver can shoot from a stationary position, but he still is not ready to practice, Lue said.

In other injury news, forward Richard Jefferson played against the Pacers after missing two games with a tendonitis in his left knee.

Long-range missiles

The 3-point field goal is the weapon of choice for the Cavaliers this season. They set a franchise record of 880 three-pointers last season and have already obliterated that this season.

They had 968 3s before playing the Pacers and, unless they fall into a deep freeze in the next 10 days, will smash through the 1,000 barrier for 3-pointers this season.