Milwaukee boosts its hopes for “Wasafa Al Sharqiah”

New York (AFP)
The Milwaukee Bucks, the defending champion, came close to securing the Eastern District runner-up in the NBA, with an easy victory over the Detroit Pistons 131-101.
The Greek giant Yiannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists in 28 minutes on the field, bringing the Bucks his tally to 51 wins and 30 losses, consolidating his second position in Al Sharqiya behind its champion Miami Heat (53-28) and in front of the Boston Celtics (50-31) .
Milwaukee will secure runners-up on Sunday if they beat the Cavaliers in Cleveland, while Boston must beat the Memphis Grizzlies in their last game to retain their second-place hope.
Milwaukee, who beat Boston in a decisive match Thursday, dominated Detroit and the bottom summer in the Eastern Conference (23-58). He quickly advanced 30-8 after the first quarter and raised the difference to 32 points in the third quarter.
Yannis was one of six Milwaukee players to score 10 points or more, Brooke Lopez added 17 and Chris Middleton 15.
In an important game at the playoff level qualifying for the playoffs, the Brooklyn Nets outperformed the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-107, and took seventh place in Al Sharqiya.
And if Brooklyn wins its last game of the regular season on Sunday against the Indiana Pacers, who was eliminated from the competition, it will likely host the playoff match against Cleveland, through which it seeks to reach the playoffs directly.
Kevin Durant starred with the Nets, scoring 36 points, Kyrie Irving added 18, Bruce Brown 18 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists, and center player Andre Drummond 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Darius Garland was the best for the loser with 31 points.