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Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on April 5, 2025 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. Issac Baldizon, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP

MIAMI, FL - APRIL 5: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on April 5, 2025 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE   Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Issac Baldizon / NBAE / Getty Images / Getty Images via AFP)

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Milwaukee Bucks v Miami Heat

Agence France-Presse

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1743924405177AFP__20250406__2208172288__v1__Preview__MilwaukeeBucksVMiamiHeat.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on April 5, 2025 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. Issac Baldizon, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP"/>Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on April 5, 2025 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. Issac Baldizon, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP</div>LOS ANGELES -- The Milwaukee Bucks clinched the last remaining automatic playoff place from the NBA&#x27;s Eastern Conference on Saturday, before warming up for the postseason with a 121-115 overtime victory over the Miami Heat.The Bucks had been assured of their ninth consecutive playoff appearance following the Atlanta Hawks&#x27; 121-105 defeat to the New York Knicks earlier in the day.The loss meant the Hawks could no longer mathematically force their way into the playoff spots and will now have to enter the four-team play-in tournament which will determine the final two postseason berths from the East.That took the pressure off the Bucks in their road game against Miami, but they nevertheless produced a gritty performance to take down the Heat in overtime.Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 36 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for a triple-double, while Kevin Porter Jr. added 24 from the bench.Bam Adebayo led Miami&#x27;s scoring with 31 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. The Heat will enter the play-in tournament alongside Chicago, Atlanta and Orlando.While the race for top six positions in the Eastern Conference is now complete, the battle in the Western Conference remains on a knife-edge with six teams locked in a neck-and-neck battle to secure the four remaining slots behind already-qualified Oklahoma City and second-placed Houston.With the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors both winning on Friday, the race tightened further on Saturday with the sixth-placed Memphis Grizzlies (46-32) and seventh-placed Minnesota Timberwolves (46-32) grabbing vital wins.The Grizzlies dug deep to defeat the Detroit Pistons 109-103 on the road, with Desmond Bane pouring in 38 points with seven rebounds and three assists.Jaren Jackson Jr. added 27 points while center Zach Edey had a huge defensive performance with 21 rebounds.Detroit star Cade Cunningham led the Pistons scoring with 25 points.In Philadelphia, the Timberwolves remained firmly in the Western Conference playoff hunt by defeating the depleted 76ers 114-109.Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 37 points while defensive linchpin Rudy Gobert had 23 points, 19 rebounds, three blocks and two steals.Timberwolves coach Chris Finch was unhappy with his team&#x27;s performance, but singled out France star Gobert for praise in helping the team close out victory.&quot;(Gobert) refuses to let us lose on nights like this when you can argue that we probably should have,&quot; Finch said.&quot;All credit to him. We highlighted his performance in the locker room -- we need more guys playing with that intentionality.&quot;We had a bunch of guys who didn&#x27;t play well today and the energy goes down around that. Our offense is sputtering. We gotta make more energy plays, get guys going.&quot;<div>© Agence France-Presse</div>

The Milwaukee Bucks clinched the last remaining automatic playoff place from the NBA's Eastern Conference on Saturday.

The Milwaukee Bucks clinched the last remaining automatic playoff place from the NBA's Eastern Conference on Saturday.

NBA: Bucks clinch playoff berth as West battle tightens

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NBA: Bucks clinch playoff berth as West battle tightens

Agence France-Presse

Published Apr 06, 2025 03:28 PM PHT

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