NBA: Milwaukee Bucks clinch playoff spot, high Suns 116-104 for fiftieth win

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 36 factors, Brook Lopez added 21 and the NBA-leading Milwaukee Bucks clinched a playoff spot by beating the Phoenix Suns 116-104 on Tuesday evening to grow to be the primary crew to 50 wins this season.

The Bucks pulled away late for his or her twenty first win in 23 video games and are the primary crew to safe a postseason berth. The Suns have dropped three straight.

The Suns trailed by 9 factors at halftime however reduce the deficit to 85-84 heading to the fourth after Devin Booker hit a mid-range jumper on the third quarter buzzer.

Cam Payne hit back-to-back 3-pointers to place the Suns up 90-87, which was their first lead of the second half. The sport stayed tight for the subsequent a number of minutes however the Bucks took the lead for good when Pat Connaughton hit a nook 3 for a 100-97 benefit with 6:30 remaining.

Antetokounmpo added 11 rebounds and eight assists. Lopez shot 10 of 14 from the sector and added 10 rebounds. The Bucks closed the sport on a 24-9 run.

Booker led the Suns with 30 factors on 13-of-27 capturing. Deandre Ayton had 19 factors and eight rebounds regardless of enjoying simply 26 minutes due to foul bother.

The Bucks led 57-48 at halftime. Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 20 factors whereas Booker and Ayton each had 10 for the Suns. Phoenix shot simply 39.2% from the sector within the first half.

TORREY’S TOOTH

Suns ahead Torrey Craig misplaced a tooth within the third quarter after taking an inadvertent elbow from Antetokounmpo. He laid on the ground for a number of seconds earlier than discovering his tooth on the bottom, which he picked up and took to the bench.

TIP-INS

Bucks: Guards Grayson Allen (sore foot), Goran Dragic (sore knee) and Khris Middleton (proper knee harm administration) all missed the sport. … Signed C Meyers Leonard to a contract for the rest of the season. Leonard has performed in 5 video games whereas on two 10-day contracts, averaging 2.8 factors and a couple of.0 rebounds. … F Jae Crowder returned to Phoenix for the primary time since being included within the commerce that introduced Kevin Durant to the Suns. He hit a 3-pointer with 1:23 left that gave the Bucks a 13-point lead.

Suns: Durant missed his fourth straight sport due to a sprained left ankle. He is performed simply three video games since coming to the crew by way of commerce in February. … Hosted a sixtieth straight sellout crowd. … Booker has scored at the very least 20 factors in 21 straight video games. That is the third-longest energetic streak within the NBA behind Joel Embiid and Jayson Tatum.

UP NEXT

Bucks: At Indiana on Thursday.

Suns: Host Orlando on Thursday.