PACERS 118, BUCKS 109: Danny Granger scored 29 points and host Indiana defeated slumping Milwaukee for its season-high seventh straight win.

The win clinched homecourt advantage for the Pacers in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The loss dropped the Bucks three games behind Philadelphia in the race for the final playoff spot in East. Milwaukee has lost five of six. The Bucks and 76ers both have four games to play.

The Pacers, who have won 11 of 12, used a 16-2 run that ended in the third quarter to take control. Indiana 34-25 late in the first quarter before the Bucks scored 15 consecutive points. The Pacers scored the final eight points of the half and continued the run in the third period to take a 66-52 lead.

George Hill scored 22 points and David West had 21 Indiana. Brandon Jennings led Milwaukee with 27 points.

Tempers flared in the fourth quarter when Indiana's Leandro Barbosa was called for a flagrant foul as Mike Dunleavy drove for a layup. Dunleavy and Tyler Hansbrough got tangled up under the basket, but were separated.

Milwaukee's Larry Sanders was ejected later in the quarter and had to be restrained by teammates for going after several Indiana players. Sanders was assessed two technical fouls while Granger and West each received one technical.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Bucks host New Jersey on Saturday. ... Pacers guard Darren Collison (sore groin) didn't play Thursday and has missed six of the last seven games.