Bucks clinch playoff spot, tear Nets

MILWAUKEE – The rebuilding plan is way ahead of schedule for the Milwaukee Bucks.

A year after a franchise-worst 67-loss season, the Bucks are headed to the playoffs.

Ersan Ilyasova scored 21 points and coach Jason Kidd’s team relied on defense in a 96-73 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday that wrapped up the playoff spot and the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.

“To be honest, I always believed we could do better. But I didn’t know if we could go from 15 wins to get 40,” said Giannis Antetokounmpo, who finished with 13 points.

The athletic 20-year-old forward is one of the big reasons why the Bucks are the first team since the 2008-9 Miami Heat to make the playoffs a year after having the NBA’s worst record.

“Our goal was to go to the playoffs, from Day 1. Everybody believed in it. I started believing in it and we made it,” the 6-foot-11 Antetokounmpo said.

In other results. Boston closed in on the seventh berth by beating Cleveland for the second straight time, 117-78; Detroit routed Charlotte, 116-77; Denver thumped Sacramento, 122-111; Indiana also boosted its playoff bid in the East while dampening Oklahoma’s drive in the West with a 116-104 victory; Washington downed Atlanta, 108-99; Houston stalled New Orleans, 121-114; San Antonio sustained its hot charge and beat Phoenix, 107-91; and the Dallas Mavericks clobbered the Los Angeles Lakers, 120-106.

Back in Milwaukee, O.J. Mayo added 17 points for the Bucks, who held Brooklyn to 32 percent shooting. It was season-low for points for a Bucks opponent.

Brook Lopez had his 17th double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets. They are tied for eighth with Indiana – a winner over Oklahoma City later Sunday – in the East, a game behind Boston. The Nets have the tiebreaker over the Pacers.