Bucks clinch top-seed in whole playoffs but facing new injury from Middleton
On Wednesday night, the Milwaukee Bucks sealed their place atop the 2022-23 regular season courtesy of their 105-92 beatdown against the Chicago Bulls, 105-92.
With no Giannis Antetikounmpo, Bobby Portis led the way with his 27 points and 13 boards, while Jrue Holiday chipped in 20 points and 15 assists. Brook Lopez also came up huge with 26 markers and seven rebounds.
In the postgame, coach Mike Budenholzer gave credit to his team after locking home-court advantage for the entire 2023 playoffs. This marks the third time that Milwaukee tops the entire league in regular season records under Budenholzer, as they did it back-to-back in both 2018-19 and 2019-20.
“Night in and night out in this league, it’s hard,” Budenholzer said, per Associated Press. “To have the best record, it is something that matters and is important. But being our best day each night is what we talk about the most.
“Now we get to take a breath. I have no idea what we’re going to do Friday and Sunday. The guys have earned it. Ton of a credit to the guys for what they’ve done since the all-star break to put themselves in this position.”
Though the Bucks finally attained the league’s best record, they are also facing another injury issue in Khris Middleton. The star swingman only played eight minutes against the Bulls and was announced out with right knee soreness, going 0-for-3.
“I think, kind of a right knee soreness, a reaggravation of something we’ve been working all year,” Budenholzer’s update on Middleton.
The club also entered Wednesday without Grayson Allen and Pat Connaughton (ankle sprain), but Budenholzer expressed hopefulness that the two will be back in the first-round postseason.
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