Giannis Anetokounmpo scored 36 points to aid the Milwaukee Bucks to beat the Phoenix Suns and become the first team to secure their spot in the NBA playoffs.
Milwaukee’s 116-104 victory was the team’s 50th win of the regular season.
Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, Anetokounmpo reminded everyone why he got that title in the first place by contributing 11 rebounds and eight assists as the Bucks stretched out their lead over the Boston Celtics at the top of the Eastern Conference.
“Making the play-offs in this league is hard,” Bucks’ coach Mike Budenholzer said.
“You should never take anything for granted. We have a special team. Our focus, effort and desire is to just keep getting better.”
Brooke Lopez supported Anetokunmpo with 21 points, and three other Milwaukee Bucks players finished with double figures as the team fought back in the final quarter to get themselves a 50-19 record.
Denver Nuggets the leaders of the Western Conference, dropped to a fourth straight defeat as Fred VanVleet preserved the playoff hopes of the Toronto Raptors with 36 points in their 125-110 victory.
The Los Angeles Lakers on their own part came back from Saturday’s defeat by the New York Knicks with a clean 123-108 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Anthony Davis of the Lakers led the scoring for his team with 35 points and 17 rebounds, placing them in firm competition for a play-off place with only four weeks of the regular season left.
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