Bucks Zone

It’s either Milwaukee Bucks versus Miami, Chicago or Toronto in the Playoffs

The top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks are in a wait-and-see mode.
Matthew Dugandzic|
© Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

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Milwaukee BucksMiami HeatToronto RaptorsChicago Bulls

The Milwaukee Bucks could face either the Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls or Miami Heat in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

Milwaukee’s potential opponents from the play-in participants have been reduced to three after the first day of the Play-in saw the Atlanta Hawks drub the Miami Heat, 116-105, on Tuesday night.

Toronto is scheduled to host Chicago in a do-or-die game. The loser of that match-up will take an early vacation, while the winning team will face Miami for the right to play Milwaukee in a best-of-seven series.

By beating the Heat, the Hawks moved to the first round of the playoffs opposite the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics.

A much-needed break

The Bucks got some extra days off after ending the regular season as the overall top seed. Aside from the extra rest, the Bucks will also have home-court advantage throughout the Playoffs.

Ending the season with a 58-24 record, the Bucks are the overall top seed for the first time since 2020.

According to Eric Nehm of The Athletic, the Bucks took a day off from practice and might also take another one. The extra rest could benefit the Bucks as it gives the banged-up bodies of their personnel time to recover.

Giannis Antetokounnmpo and Khris Middleton missed Milwaukee’s last two regular season games due to knee soreness.

Big guns ready for return

Middleton left the game during the second quarter of the team’s 105-92 win over the Bulls after hurting his knee. The MRI came back clean. Grayson Allen also suffered a sprained ankle.

Coach Mike Budenholzer has expressed optimism that his key pieces will be ready to suit up once the playoffs start on April 15.

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.