Close East race adds to Bucks’ urgency coming out of break

Published February 25, 2022 3:21 PM

By STEVE MEGARGEE
AP Sports Writer

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo and the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks are coming out of the All-Star break knowing they’ve got work ahead just to earn home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Bucks went into the weekend fourth in the East. They’re only three games behind the conference-leading Chicago Bulls but just 2 ½ games ahead of the seventh-place Toronto Raptors. The Bucks play their first game since the All-Star break Saturday when they host the Brooklyn Nets.