Bucks Beat Heat 122-108, Maintain Bid for East’s No. 2 Seed
MILWAUKEE (AP) - Khris Middleton and Bryn Forbes each scored 21 points to help the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Miami Heat 122-108 on Saturday night in a potential first-round playoff series preview.
Jrue Holiday added 20 points and 10 assists for the Bucks, who have won three straight and eight of their last nine.
Kendrick Nunn had a season-high 31 points for the Heat. They lost despite shooting 22 of 49 from 3-point range and tying a franchise record for 3-point baskets in a game.
Miami didn’t have leading scorer Jimmy Butler due to lower back tightness.
The Bucks are third and the Heat sixth in the Eastern Conference standings, which would have them meeting in the first round of the playoffs. But neither team is locked into that position heading into the final day of the regular season.
Milwaukee still could earn the No. 2 seed if it wins at Chicago and the Brooklyn Nets lose at home to Cleveland on Sunday. Miami could move into the No. 5 spot if it beats Houston and the New York Knicks lose at home to Boston.
The Heat beat the top-seeded Bucks 4-1 in a second-round playoff series last year and went on to win the East title before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.
This loss eliminated the Heat from contention for a potential No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Milwaukee took the lead for good about two minutes into the game thanks to a balanced attack.
Brook Lopez scored 18 points and shot 9 of 10. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 15 points, Bobby Portis 14, and Donte DiVincenzo added 11 points and nine rebounds.
Duncan Robinson and Dragic scored 17 points each for Miami.
Jrue Holiday added 20 points and 10 assists for the Bucks, who have won three straight and eight of their last nine.
Kendrick Nunn had a season-high 31 points for the Heat. They lost despite shooting 22 of 49 from 3-point range and tying a franchise record for 3-point baskets in a game.
Miami didn’t have leading scorer Jimmy Butler due to lower back tightness.
The Bucks are third and the Heat sixth in the Eastern Conference standings, which would have them meeting in the first round of the playoffs. But neither team is locked into that position heading into the final day of the regular season.
Milwaukee still could earn the No. 2 seed if it wins at Chicago and the Brooklyn Nets lose at home to Cleveland on Sunday. Miami could move into the No. 5 spot if it beats Houston and the New York Knicks lose at home to Boston.
The Heat beat the top-seeded Bucks 4-1 in a second-round playoff series last year and went on to win the East title before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.
This loss eliminated the Heat from contention for a potential No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Milwaukee took the lead for good about two minutes into the game thanks to a balanced attack.
Brook Lopez scored 18 points and shot 9 of 10. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 15 points, Bobby Portis 14, and Donte DiVincenzo added 11 points and nine rebounds.
Duncan Robinson and Dragic scored 17 points each for Miami.