1.   If the loss stands, it means the Knicks slipped to the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference when the Nets defeated Toronto Sunday night.

2.   Seattle and Sacramento put a lot of effort into trying to finish above the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference, to avoid facing Los Angeles.

3.   The Canucks are clinging to the eighth playoff spot in the West but have given the Kings fits recently.

4.   The confidence of the Mavericks continues to soar as they chase Minnesota for the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference.

5.   The Nissan Open championship marked the eighth playoff he had won in as many attempts.

6.   The Pacers still hold the eighth playoff spot and the Nets are seven games behind them.

7.   The Sharks host Edmonton, which has opened a three-point edge over Calgary for the eighth playoff spot, Los Angeles and the Mighty Ducks.

8.   They were eliminated by Denver -- again in a battle for the eighth playoff spot -- in the first round.

9.   Those were big breakthroughs as the Nuggets battle Sacramento for the eighth playoff seed in the West.

10.   With the win, the Celtics closed to within a game of the eighth playoff spot.