NBA: Spurs Thrash Bucks, Ending Play-off Dreams

The Milwaukee Bucks will miss the NBA play-offs for the first time in a decade after a resounding 127-95 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs.

The Bucks have now lost nine of their last 11 fixtures and were once again without their talisman, Giannis Antetokounmpo, for the sixth consecutive game as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.

Conversely, this marked an eighth consecutive victory for the in-form Spurs, who are hot on the heels of reigning champions Oklahoma City Thunder in the race for both the top seed in the Western Conference and the best record across the league.

The Spurs currently trail the Thunder by two games with just eight regular-season matches remaining.

The play-in tournament is set to commence on 14th April, with the main play-offs kicking off four days later.

Stephon Castle delivered his fourth triple-double of the season, registering 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. He was one of seven Spurs players to reach double figures, a tally led by Victor Wembanyama, who contributed 23 points and 15 rebounds.

Last week, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers refuted claims from the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) that his team was deliberately sidelining a healthy Antetokounmpo against the wishes of the 10-time All-Star and two-time league MVP.

“He’s not [healthy],” Rivers stated when quizzed about the NBPA’s assertion that the 31-year-old is fit and being held out to allow the Bucks to improve their NBA Draft lottery position through ‘tanking’.

“He’s progressing. He’s just not healthy.”