Bucks at 76ers
The Milwaukee Bucks can clinch the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs with a win against the host Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday. The Bucks, who are two victories shy of their fifth 60-win season, enter three games up on Toronto in the loss column with three to play and own the tiebreaker between the teams.
More important than playoff positioning for the Bucks is the health of superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who returned from an ankle injury to record 28 points and 11 rebounds in Monday's 131-121 win at Brooklyn in a contest in which the team dressed just nine players. "Character is something we talk a lot about and something we really value," Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters after the victory. "Your character comes out when you face a little bit of adversity, which I think we did tonight. I don't think we always had the best response to it, but ultimately, I think the character does come through and we were able to get a little bit of separation and win the game." The Sixers are backing toward the No. 3 seed with back-to-back losses to non-playoff teams to close out their three-game road trip. Philadelphia owns a 2 1/2-game lead over both Boston and Indiana with four to play after suffering a 130-122 setback in Atlanta on Wednesday.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT, NBCS Philadelphia
ABOUT THE BUCKS (58-20): While Antetokounmpo was able to return at Brooklyn, Milwaukee is not without injury concerns. Fellow All-Star Khris Middleton (groin) has missed the team's last two games, although Budenholzer indicated that the sharpshooter is expected to return in Philadelphia. Ersan Ilyasova (back) also could come back on Thursday, while Malcolm Brogdon (foot) is hoping to return for the playoffs.
ABOUT THE 76ERS (49-29): Philadelphia played all three games of its road trip without star center Joel Embiid (rest) and fell to 7-9 when the big man is not on the court with Wednesday's defeat. JJ Redick tried to keep up with the Hawks by scoring 30 points, including 18 on six 3-pointers, while Tobias Harris chipped in with 21. Embiid is expected back to face the Bucks, against whom he has averaged 35 points, 17 rebounds and six assists in two meetings this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Embiid scored 40 points to lead the Sixers to a 130-125 win at Milwaukee last month, while Antetokounmpo finished with a career-high 52.
2. Bucks PG Eric Bledsoe recorded 29 points, seven assists and five steals at Brooklyn on Monday.
3. Sixers PF Jonah Bolden notched his first career double-double on Wednesday with 13 points and 10 rebounds.