Bucks rally past Lakers, clinch playoff berth

LOS ANGELES: Eric Bledsoe converted a three-point play with 2:25 remaining to give Milwaukee the lead for good, and the visiting Bucks scored 15 of the game’s final 17 points to post a 131-120 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.

The win allowed Milwaukee to become the first NBA team to clinch a playoff berth this season.

Bledsoe finished with 31 points, and Giannis Antetokounmpo chipped in with 16 points and 15 rebounds for the Bucks, who won their seventh straight.

LeBron James had 31 points and 10 assists for the Lakers, who have followed each of their past six wins with a loss.

In a fourth quarter that featured seven lead changes and six ties, James gave the Lakers their last lead at 118-116 by sinking a 3-pointer with 3:11 left.

The Bucks dominated the rest of the game.

After Bledsoe’s three-point play, Malcolm Brogdon expanded Milwaukee’s lead with two free throws with 1:54 to play and a 3-pointer 13 seconds later, and the Bucks held on from there.

Seven Bucks scored in double figures in a balanced attack, with Brogdon (21 points), Khris Middleton (18), Ersan Ilyasova (12), Brook Lopez (11) and Nikola Mirotic (11) joining Bledsoe and Antetokounmpo in that category.

Bledsoe hit 12 of his 24 shots and also found time for nine rebounds and five assists.