Nets win, improve playoff positioning

D’Angelo Russell had 25 points and 10 assists, and the Nets beat the Bucks 133-128 on Saturday in Milwaukee to improve their positioning in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The Nets (40-40) made 19 3-pointers and placed eight players in double figures. Caris LeVert added 24 points.

The Nets, who had dropped four of five, moved into sixth in the East. The Magic also are 40-40, and the Pistons (3939) are a half-game back.

The Bucks (59-21) played without MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was sidelined by a left calf injury. They already had clinched the NBA’s best record.

Eric Bledsoe had 33 points and 11 assists for the Bucks, and Khris Middleton finished with 24 points.

Joel Embiid had 20 points and 10 boards, JJ Redick scored 23 and the 76ers snapped a threegame skid with a 116-96 win over the host Bulls 116-96. Jimmy Butler missed his second consecutive game because of back tightness . ... Nikola Jokic scored 10 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, Paul Millsap finished with 25 points, and the host Nuggets clinched their first Northwest Division title in six years with a 119-110 win over the Trail Blazers on Friday . ... Stephen Curry scored 40 points to lift the West-leading and two-time defending league champion Warriors to a 120-114 win over the Cavaliers on Friday. The two-time league MVP moved into third on the Warriors’ scoring list. With 16,283 points, Curry trails only Wilt Chamberlain (17,783) and Rick Barry (16,447).