LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Joe Harris sank the go-ahead three-pointer with 84 seconds left as the Brooklyn Nets’ playoff push got a boost with a 133-128 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.
The Nets used a balanced attack to beat the shorthanded Bucks as eight players scored in double figures. They also drained 19 three-pointers.
Brooklyn improved to 40-40 on the NBA season to move into a tie with the Orlando Magic for sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings. Detroit is a half game behind at 39-40. But the Nets have tiebreakers against both the Magic and the Pistons.
D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets (Gary Dineen / NBAE / Getty Images / AFP)
D’Angelo Russell had 25 points and 10 assists, Caris LeVert scored 24 points and Jared Dudley collected 14 of his 16 points in the second half.
Milwaukee played without star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was out with a left calf injury.
Milwaukee has already clinched the best record in the league with a win on the road over the Philadelphia 76ers two nights earlier.
Elsewhere, Joel Embiid dominated inside to score 20 points and 10 rebounds as Philadelphia returned to the winner’s circle with a 116-96 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
JJ Redick scored 23 points as Philadelphia snapped a three-game losing skid and widened the gap over Boston for the third seed in the East to two games with the win.