Bucks Lock Up East's 5th Seed, Will Face Familiar Foe in Playoffs

Milwaukee's first round playoff fate has been finalized.

Apr 10, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA: Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts in the second quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images / Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

The Milwaukee Bucks' first round playoff fate has been finalized.

In Little Caesars Arena on Friday, Milwaukee bested the Detroit Pistons, 125-119, behind a superlative 32-pont, 15-assist, 11-rebound triple-double from nine-time All-Star power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo — his fourth in the last five games.

Giannis' FOURTH triple-double in his last five games. pic.twitter.com/5U2FtKyGQd

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 12, 2025

Backup center/power forward Bobby Portis notched a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double, while guard Kevin Porter Jr. notched 16 points, seven rebounds and four boards.

Two-time All-Defensive Team starting center Brook Lopez scored 15 points, pulled down seven rebounds and blocked three shots.

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The victory, Milwaukee's seventh in a row, has allowed them to snag the Eastern Conference's No. 5 seed and lock the Pistons into the sixth seed.

As Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star observes, the Indiana Pacers' 129-115 loss to the Orlando Magic has guaranteed that they will be the East's fourth seed, finishing behind the No. 3-seeded New York Knicks.

Pacers loss locks them into the No. 4 seed and the Knicks at the 3. Bucks win locks them into the 5 and Pistons to the 6. So those playoff matchups are set and there will be a Pacers-Bucks rematch.

— Dustin Dopirak (@DustinDopirak) April 12, 2025

Thus, fans will be treated to a rematch of last year's 2024 first round clash between Milwaukee and Indiana. With Antetokounmpo missing every game due to injury (and nine-time All-Star Bucks point guard Damian Lillard sidelined for two games with an ailment of his own), the Bucks fell in six.

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Now, health looks to once again be a major problem for the Bucks when the playoffs start on April 19.

Lillard has been shelved with a deep vein thrombosis in his right calf since a March 18 loss to the Golden State Warriors. If he can't play, Milwaukee might need a borderline-historic performance from Antetokounmpo to stand any chance against the Pacers' balanced, pace-and-space attack.

Former two-way signing Ryan Rollins, now on a standard deal, has been starting for Lillard. He scored seven points on 3-of-5 shooting (1-of-3 from distance), dished out four dimes, grabbed two rebounds and swiped one steal in 17 minutes of action against the Pistons.

The Bucks held major advantages in fastbreak points (21-11) and points off turnovers (15-3), while Milwaukee's reserves outscored Detroit's, 51-38.

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For more news and notes on the Milwaukee Bucks, visit Milwaukee Bucks on SI.