The Milwaukee Bucks’ 105-92 win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday gave them the No. 1 seeding and an opportunity to play the whole nba playoffs on residence courtroom.
With 58 wins on the season, the Bucks are actually away from the opposite groups, none of whom have greater than 57 video games left to win.
So the path to the NBA Finals now goes via Milwaukee, and for the primary time, the route out of the Western Convention goes via Denver. And the highest half of the Japanese Convention playoff bracket is ready as nicely.
“It is only a credit score to the gamers,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer mentioned. “The gamers have actually stepped up. I believe they’ve accepted the problem. Evening in and evening out on this league, it is powerful. There’s super opposition. … To have one of the best file, it is one thing is what issues. Is it vital.”
1 seed within the West was additionally selected Wednesday evening. After New Orleans defeated Memphis in time beyond regulation, the Denver Nuggets would have home-court all through the West playoffs – and took away the Grizzlies’ final hope of catching the Nuggets for the highest spot exterior the West.
The Bucks are the No. 1 seed for the primary time since 2020. Denver has by no means been a No. 1 seed earlier than.
Boston (55-25) would be the No. 2 seed within the East heading into Toronto on Wednesday. That locked Philadelphia (52-27) in a possible first-round matchup with the No. 3 seed and Brooklyn. The Nets (44-36) beat Detroit and now want just one extra win or a Miami loss to wrap up the No. 6 seed.
One other first-round Japanese Convention matchup was scheduled for earlier this week; No. 4 Cleveland will meet No. 5 New York. They may meet for Recreation 1 on April 15 or 16, with the NBA playoffs opening that weekend.
It’s nonetheless unclear within the East what’s the order of the groups for the play-in event beginning on Tuesday.
Miami is the chief and is at the moment ranked seventh, forward of three different play-in sure groups – Atlanta, Toronto and Chicago. The winner of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 recreation on Tuesday (because it stands now, Miami may have the matchup in Atlanta) will draw Boston in Spherical 1; The second crew to emerge from the East Play-In Match will open towards the top-seeded Bucks.
Securing a seed now provides some groups an opportunity to relaxation gamers earlier than the playoffs start, and in lots of circumstances, that statistic is welcome. The Bucks received on Wednesday with out Giannis Antetokounmpo and with Khris Middleton – who has battled accidents for many of the season – sidelined after eight minutes with a recurrence of knee ache.
“Now we get an opportunity to breathe,” Budenholzer mentioned. “I do not know what we’ll do on Friday and Sunday.”
Chicago can be on the street to open the play-in event; The Bulls are locked in No. 10 within the East and can go to whichever crew finishes ninth – Toronto or Atlanta.
And when the playoffs start for the Bucks, they’re going to look to buck some current traits. There hasn’t been a No. 1 seed to win the East title since Cleveland in 2016, and no crew with one of the best regular-season file has gone on to win the NBA Finals since Golden State in 2017.
“I believe we’re prepared, nicely ready,” mentioned Bucks guard Junior Vacation. “I believe we have gotten via loads…actually excited to get going after the season.”
what’s left
Many of the play stays within the West, the place Denver, Memphis, Sacramento and Phoenix have clinched playoff spots — and eight groups are nonetheless within the working for the six remaining playoff or play-in berths.
Defending champions Golden State, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans and Minnesota could not do worse than making the play-in event. Oklahoma Metropolis, Dallas and Utah are all vying for play-in berths.
For now, Golden State and the Clippers — each 42-38 — can be within the playoffs, whereas the Lakers, Pelicans, Timberwolves and Thunder maintain play-in spots. The Clippers beat the Lakers (41-39) on Wednesday evening.
Dallas topped Sacramento 123-119 on Wednesday. The Mavericks (38-42) stay at No. 11, however are tied with No. 10 Oklahoma Metropolis, with each groups having two video games remaining. Oklahoma Metropolis visits Utah on Thursday, Dallas hosts Chicago on Friday, after which the Thunder host Memphis on Sunday whereas the Mavs entertain San Antonio.
With 58 wins on the season, the Bucks are actually away from the opposite groups, none of whom have greater than 57 video games left to win.
So the path to the NBA Finals now goes via Milwaukee, and for the primary time, the route out of the Western Convention goes via Denver. And the highest half of the Japanese Convention playoff bracket is ready as nicely.
“It is only a credit score to the gamers,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer mentioned. “The gamers have actually stepped up. I believe they’ve accepted the problem. Evening in and evening out on this league, it is powerful. There’s super opposition. … To have one of the best file, it is one thing is what issues. Is it vital.”
1 seed within the West was additionally selected Wednesday evening. After New Orleans defeated Memphis in time beyond regulation, the Denver Nuggets would have home-court all through the West playoffs – and took away the Grizzlies’ final hope of catching the Nuggets for the highest spot exterior the West.
The Bucks are the No. 1 seed for the primary time since 2020. Denver has by no means been a No. 1 seed earlier than.
Boston (55-25) would be the No. 2 seed within the East heading into Toronto on Wednesday. That locked Philadelphia (52-27) in a possible first-round matchup with the No. 3 seed and Brooklyn. The Nets (44-36) beat Detroit and now want just one extra win or a Miami loss to wrap up the No. 6 seed.
One other first-round Japanese Convention matchup was scheduled for earlier this week; No. 4 Cleveland will meet No. 5 New York. They may meet for Recreation 1 on April 15 or 16, with the NBA playoffs opening that weekend.
It’s nonetheless unclear within the East what’s the order of the groups for the play-in event beginning on Tuesday.
Miami is the chief and is at the moment ranked seventh, forward of three different play-in sure groups – Atlanta, Toronto and Chicago. The winner of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 recreation on Tuesday (because it stands now, Miami may have the matchup in Atlanta) will draw Boston in Spherical 1; The second crew to emerge from the East Play-In Match will open towards the top-seeded Bucks.
Securing a seed now provides some groups an opportunity to relaxation gamers earlier than the playoffs start, and in lots of circumstances, that statistic is welcome. The Bucks received on Wednesday with out Giannis Antetokounmpo and with Khris Middleton – who has battled accidents for many of the season – sidelined after eight minutes with a recurrence of knee ache.
“Now we get an opportunity to breathe,” Budenholzer mentioned. “I do not know what we’ll do on Friday and Sunday.”
Chicago can be on the street to open the play-in event; The Bulls are locked in No. 10 within the East and can go to whichever crew finishes ninth – Toronto or Atlanta.
And when the playoffs start for the Bucks, they’re going to look to buck some current traits. There hasn’t been a No. 1 seed to win the East title since Cleveland in 2016, and no crew with one of the best regular-season file has gone on to win the NBA Finals since Golden State in 2017.
“I believe we’re prepared, nicely ready,” mentioned Bucks guard Junior Vacation. “I believe we have gotten via loads…actually excited to get going after the season.”
what’s left
Many of the play stays within the West, the place Denver, Memphis, Sacramento and Phoenix have clinched playoff spots — and eight groups are nonetheless within the working for the six remaining playoff or play-in berths.
Defending champions Golden State, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans and Minnesota could not do worse than making the play-in event. Oklahoma Metropolis, Dallas and Utah are all vying for play-in berths.
For now, Golden State and the Clippers — each 42-38 — can be within the playoffs, whereas the Lakers, Pelicans, Timberwolves and Thunder maintain play-in spots. The Clippers beat the Lakers (41-39) on Wednesday evening.
Dallas topped Sacramento 123-119 on Wednesday. The Mavericks (38-42) stay at No. 11, however are tied with No. 10 Oklahoma Metropolis, with each groups having two video games remaining. Oklahoma Metropolis visits Utah on Thursday, Dallas hosts Chicago on Friday, after which the Thunder host Memphis on Sunday whereas the Mavs entertain San Antonio.
“At this level of the season, it’s what it’s when it comes to the truth of the standings,” Mavs guard Kyrie Irving mentioned. “We have now to take it one minute at a time.”
The New Orleans victory assured the Pelicans no worse than a play-in berth.
“Is that this loopy or what?” Pelicans broadcaster Joel Meyers mirrored after New Orleans’ time beyond regulation victory.
The common season finale on Sunday might see some dramatic outcomes.
(with AP inputs)