Bucks wrap up top seed in NBA with 105-92 victory over Bulls

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Bobby Portis had 27 points and13 rebounds, starting in place of the injured Giannis Antetokounmpoand the Milwaukee Bucks wrapped up the top seed in the NBAplayoffs, beating the Chicago Bulls 105-92 on Wednesday night.

Antetokounmpo was ruled out before the game because of rightknee soreness. He had 28 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists againstWashington on Tuesday night.

Brook Lopez had 26 points, point guard Jrue Holiday added 20points, 15 assists and eight rebounds and Jevon Carter had 16points in a starting role. Khris Middleton started for the Bucks,but played just eight minutes before exiting with right kneesoreness. He was 0 for 3 from the floor.

Milwaukee improved to 58-22, fighting back from a 10-point,third-quarter deficit. The Bucks lead fellow Eastern Conference foeBoston by three games with two games remaining.

Jae Crowder and Wes Matthews combined to harass Bulls forwardDeMar DeRozan throughout the game, with DeRozan finishing witheight points on 3-of-12 shooting.

Nikola Vucevic led the Bulls with 21 points and 11 rebounds.Coby White added 14 points, and Zach LaVine had 13.

The Bulls built a 61-51 lead early in the third quarter, but theBucks responded with a 15-0 run, paced by six points from Portisand four from Lopez.

The Bulls started the night in 10th place in the East andalready having clinched a play-in berth.

TIP-INS

Bulls: Guard Alex Caruso was ruled out with a left foot injury,a problem he has dealt with in recent weeks. Caruso played 19minutes and went scoreless in Chicago’s home loss to Atlanta onTuesday night. “He doesn’t want to be a liability,” Bulls coachBilly Donovan said.

Bucks: Pat Connaughton sprained his right ankle in the firstquarter Tuesday and was out Wednesday. “We’re hopeful it’s a veryshort-term thing,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “I would putit in the relatively positive bucket.” … Grayson Allen (right anklesprain) is out for the rest of the regular-season, but Budenholzerremains hopeful the guard will be ready for the first round of theplayoffs which open April 15.

UP NEXT

Bulls: At Dallas on Friday night.

Bucks: Host Memphis on Friday night.