Milwaukee Bucks' playoffs hopes dashed
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 20 Apr 2012
TRAILING by three games with four games left in their regular season schedule, the Milwaukee Bucks' playoffs aspirations is on death watch.
And no thanks to a brutal 118-109 pounding at the hands of the Indiana Pacers Thursday night at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the Bucks may have taken one of its few remaining breaths.
The loss pushed Milwaukee's win-loss record to 29-33 and only a monumental collapse by the 32-30 Philadelphia 76ers will allow the Bucks to somehow sneak in the playoffs as the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference.
And that minor miracle will be rewarded by a first-round best-of-7 series against either the Chicago Bulls or the Miami Heat.
The 41-22 Pacers, meanwhile, locked up the 3rd seed in the East and guaranteed themselves homecourt advantage in the opening round. Their possible opponents include the Boston Celtics, the Atlanta Hawks and the Orlando Magic.
Indy employed a balanced assault to derail the sliding Bucks, who lost their third game in a row. Danny Granger dropped 29 points, George Hill poured in 22 while David West added 21 for the Pacers, who shot 47.3 percent from the field (43-of-91 shots) including 7-of-17 beyond the arc.
The Bucks put up a decent fight and led by six -- 40-34 -- at the 7:26 mark of the second quarter. But they couldn't sustain their momentum. And neither could they stop the Pacers who went on a rampage that produced a massive 86-71 bubble late in the third quarter.
"They're a good club. They are 19 games over now, so you can't fall behind like that, You have to stay with them. Our overall approach early in the game wasn't good enough for a game like this against a team of that caliber. It's not that we didn't play hard, it's that you need an extraordinary effort against a team like this, not an ordinary one. It's a great club. They will be a tough out in the playoffs, "Bucks coach Scott Skiles said of the Pacers.
Brandon Jennings led Milwaukee's unsuccessful charge with 27 points. Mike Dunleavy darted off the bench with 23 while Monta Ellis chipped in 15. The Bucks shot only 42 percent from the field (37-of-88) and 6-of-20 from beyond the 3-point line (33.3 percent). (Homer D. Sayson)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
WBC lifts the suspension imposed on Ryan Garcia
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Siargao pug bags silver in Batang Pinoy
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Marcial-Colmenares Middleweight Bout Steals Show at Thrilla in Manila 50th Year (Part 2 of 2)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Brown vs. Seldin for the WBA Super Lightweight Interim World Title
Wed, 05 Nov 2025FRANCIS LAFRENIÈRE MAKES COMEBACK NOV 29
Wed, 05 Nov 2025OLYMPIC MEDALIST YUBERJEN MARTINEZ INKS WITH ALL STAR BOXING
Wed, 05 Nov 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 November 2025: Mayer Outpoints Spencer to Unify 154 Belts; Buatsi's Controversial Win Over Parker; Pero Outpoints Thompson; Thrilla in Manila at 50 Results
By Eric Armit, Tue, 04 Nov 2025Marcial-Colmenares Middleweight Bout Steals Show at Thrilla in Manila 50th Year (Part 1)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 04 Nov 2025MATCHROOM BOXING ANNOUNCES HISTORIC ‘LIVE FROM GHANA’ EVENT FOR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20 AS CRAIG RICHARDS AND DAN AZEEZ COLLIDE IN ACCRA – LIVE WORLDWIDE ON DAZN
Tue, 04 Nov 2025Bryce Mills Defeats James Bernadin By Unanimous Decision
Mon, 03 Nov 2025NBA Daily: Wembanyama Struggles as Suns Give Spurs First Loss 130-118
By Reylan Loberternos, Mon, 03 Nov 2025Oklahoma City Thunder the only undefeated NBA Team
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Mon, 03 Nov 2025RP Blu Boys Close Out Strong with Unbeaten Record in Japan Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 03 Nov 2025Pero Outlasts Thompson in Orlando, Secures Unanimous Decision Victory
Mon, 03 Nov 2025Jonas Magpantay Crowned Qatar World Cup 10-Ball Champion
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 03 Nov 2025