They began the day 4 points out of the final Eastern Conference playoff berth.

The contest was critical for both clubs, who are battling to make the Eastern Conference playoffs.

No matter how their games turn out, two of those three will face each other in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Win their next three games and they sew up the third slot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The key performers who got them through the Eastern Conference playoffs have all but disappeared in the finals.

The team with the better record would have home-court advantage if they meet in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Together, they badly want home-court advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Before last season, when they were expected to be a major player in the Eastern Conference playoffs, they lost 17 of their first 20 games.

In the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Sting has been the superior team.

They are on Washington's heels for a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.