76ers at Bucks
THE STORY: Having wrapped up the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers will visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night in the next-to-last game of the regular season. The Sixers are tied with the New York Knicks for seventh in the East, but coach Doug Collins plans on resting some of his key players rather than going all-out to move up a notch in the standings. Philadelphia's win at New Jersey on Monday night ended the Bucks’ playoff chances.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSP, FS Wisconsin
ABOUT THE 76ERS (34-30): Philadelphia had dropped seven of nine games to open this month before ripping off three straight victories in its season-ending five-game road swing. The three-game winning streak secured the Sixers’ second consecutive trip to the postseason and marked the first time they have won three in a row since March 7-11. Collins said he will rest point guard Andre Iguodala and forward Elton Brand – and probably leading scorer Lou Williams – for the final two games. The Knicks hold the tiebreaker over Philly.
ABOUT THE BUCKS (31-33): Milwaukee was at .500 and within a half-game of eighth place following a four-game winning streak on April 7. The season took a turn from there with five losses in six games, putting the Bucks’ playoff hopes on life support until the Sixers pulled the plug Monday. Milwaukee’s defense was a sieve during that six-game span, surrendering 110.2 points per game. The Bucks have rebounded with back-to-back wins and can finish with a .500 record by winning their final two.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Philadelphia has clinched its first winning record since the 2004-05 season.
2. Bucks F Larry Sanders will return to the lineup after serving a two-game suspension.
3. Williams can become the first player to lead his team in scoring without starting a game since Charlotte Hornets guard Dell Curry accomplished the feat in 1993-94.