A couple of key wounded players returned to the floor Monday night as the Milwaukee Bucks moved ever closer to wrapping up the best record in the NBA’s Eastern Conference and home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Bucks defeated the Brooklyn Nets 131-121 at the Barlcay’s Center to cut the clinching magic number to one.
Eric Bledsoe and Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out Sunday’s overtime loss in Atlanta but both were back on the floor and delivered strong performances. Bledsoe led Milwaukee with 29 while Antetokounmpo had 28 points with 11 rebounds. The Bucks buried the Nets by putting up 40 points in the 4th Quarter.
D’Angelo Russell topped Brooklyn (39-39) with 28 points. They are clinging to the 7th seed in the East while Milwaukee continues to hold down the top spot at 58-20, three games in front of Toronto with onl for games left to play.
The Bucks (58-20) have to play one last road game, Thursday in Phildelphia, before finishing at home against the Nets on Saturday, Atlanta and Oklahoma City next week. A win in any of those games, or a Raptors loss, will clinch the conference championship to go along with the division title they clinched two weeks ago.
