Before their matchup on Sunday afternoon, the visiting Milwaukee Bucks and the Toronto Raptors know where they will finish in the standings.
This week, the Bucks (58-23) secured the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, earning them playoff home court advantage.
In their 137-114 home defeat of the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, the Bucks’ depleted starting lineup reflected their status.
The Raptors (40-41) will finish ninth in the East and will play the 10th-place Chicago Bulls in a must-win play-in game on Wednesday at home.
The Raptors lost any possibility climbing to eighth spot with their 121-102 street misfortune Friday to the under-staffed Boston Celtics, who had previously secured second in the East,
Milwaukee has won each of the three gatherings with Toronto this season.
In their game against the Grizzlies, the Bucks were without Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee), Khris Middleton (knee), Jrue Occasion (rest), Stream Lopez (rest), Pat Connaughton (lower leg) and Grayson Allen (lower leg). Bobby Portis and Joe Ingles were in uniform yet didn’t play while Wesley Matthews played six minutes.
Lindell Wigginton, A.J. Green, Jae Crowder, MarJon Beauchamp, and Meyers Leonard started for Milwaukee. Green left during the second quarter with a sore right foot and did not return.
Wigginton, who is on a two-way agreement with the Bucks, had 25 focuses and 11 aids 41 minutes.
In 24 minutes, Crowder scored 24 points.
Against the Celtics, the Raptors were trailing by as much as 26 points.
Malcolm Brogdon (back), Marcus Smart (neck), and Jaylen Brown (finger) were all out for Boston. Jayson Tatum only appeared in the first half for 20 minutes.
The Raptors’ poor shooting was a problem all season long.
They made 43% (40 of 93) of their field goals, including 29% (9 of 31) from three-point range. Toronto shot 30 percent in the first half (15 of 50).
