LOS ANGELES – Brook Lopez said the Milwaukee Bucks’ 105-92 win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, which saw them clinch top seeding for the play-offs, was proof of their ability to deliver with different line-ups.
The win means the Bucks will have home-court advantage in the post-season as owners of the best record in the National Basketball Association.
With two-time Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo rested, Milwaukee demonstrated their strength in depth with a balanced offensive display.
Bobby Portis scored 27 points while Lopez added 26 as the Bucks bagged their 58th win of the season to seal top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Point guard Jrue Holiday took on the playmaking responsibilities, with 15 assists and eight rebounds in addition to a 20-point haul, while Jevon Carter added 16 points.
Said Lopez: “It’s definitely a great achievement. It’s cool because we’ve had a lot of different line-ups throughout the year.
“Regardless of who we’ve put out on the floor, our guys have come out with the right mindset and have been going out there to succeed.”
His coach Mike Budenholzer added: “To have the best record, it is something that matters and is important. But being our best day each night is what we talk about the most.
“Now we get to take a breath. I have no idea what we’re going to do Friday and Sunday. The guys have earned it. Ton of a credit to the guys for what they’ve done since the All-Star break to put themselves in this position.”
Milwaukee’s offence turned the game around in the third quarter, transforming a 61-51 deficit with a 15-0 run that put the Bucks into a 66-61 lead.
The only blemish was an injury scare to Khris Middleton, who departed after less than nine minutes with a knee problem.
Wednesday’s victory, however, means the Bucks can rest their front-line players for the final two games of the regular season, which wraps up on Sunday before the play-offs start on April 15.
“Obviously, over an 82-game season, there’s going to be highs and lows, there’s going to be times when you struggle and times when you’re hot,” said Portis.
“But staying together, building our habits on a daily basis, building our chemistry has been key, and hopefully we can take that into the post-season.”
The identity of Milwaukee’s first-round opponents in the play-offs will not be determined until the completion of next week’s play-in tournament.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, the Boston Celtics clinched the second seed in the Eastern Conference with a 97-93 win over the Toronto Raptors.
Boston’s victory ensured that the Philadelphia 76ers will finish third in the East.
The Sixers are poised to face the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the post-season. The Nets are all but guaranteed sixth place with a 123-108 win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.
In the West, the Denver Nuggets (52-27) were confirmed as No. 1 seeds in their half of the play-offs after the Memphis Grizzlies were beaten 138-131 in overtime by the New Orleans Pelicans.
But the play-off hopes of the Los Angeles Lakers remains unclear after their 125-118 defeat by the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Lakers – who returned to Los Angeles after a gruelling overtime victory in Utah on Tuesday – trailed for almost the entire game as they lost for the 11th consecutive time to their city rivals.
LeBron James, who scored 30 of his team-high 33 points after half-time, was quoted by ESPN as saying: “It’s one of the toughest games we’ve had this year.
“Coming off the road trip and getting back late last night, after an overtime game... this was one of those scheduling conflicts in the season and definitely got the best of us tonight.”
Norman Powell (27 points) and Kawhi Leonard (25) carried the Clippers to victory.
The loss leaves the Lakers outside the top six automatic play-off spots with only two games remaining.
The Lakers are seventh in the standings with a 41-39 record, with the Clippers and Golden State Warriors just ahead of them with identical 42-38 records. AFP
