When: 3:00 PM EST; Sunday, April 12th, 2015
Where: Barclays Center; Brooklyn, NY
TV: YES
Thanks to a Miami Heat come-from-ahead loss to the Raptors last night, the Nets’ spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs can be solidified on Sunday as Brooklyn is in Milwaukee to take on Jason Kidd’s Bucks.
The Nets are still tied with the Celtics–who play the Cavaliers this afternoon–at 37-42, so both the No. 7 and 8 seeds are in play for them. The seeding probably won’t be decided until the last day of the regular season, but Brooklyn will know for sure it’ll be playing in the postseason with a win against Milwaukee and a Pacers–currently one game back–loss to the Thunder today.
With the Nets holding the season series tiebreaker over Indiana, they control their own destiny but can speed up the clinching process with some help. It’s interesting how Brooklyn can assure itself of a playoff berth while taking on Kidd, who infamously coached the Nets for just last season before a failed power-grab landed him in Wisconsin, and the Bucks, a team that has been reeling since trading Brandon Knight at February’s trade deadline–and getting Michael Carter-Williams in return.
Also, a Brooklyn win keeps the chance alive that the Nets could surpass the Bucks for the No. 6 seed. The only way this happens is if the Nets win out (they have two more games after today) and if the Bucks lose out (they also only have two more games). Not likely, but it’s definitely possible.
Probable Lineups
BKN- Deron Williams (PG), Markel Brown (SG), Joe Johnson (SF), Thaddeus Young (PF), Brook Lopez (C)
MIL- Michael Carter-Williams (PG), Khris Middleton (SG), Giannis Antetokounmpo (SF), Ersan Ilyasova (PF), Zaza Pachulia (C)
Final Thoughts
Two of the three meetings between these teams resulted in triple-overtime thrillers. Hopefully today will be as exciting as those, but it’s one the Nets really need–like their past 15-20 games or so–and should try to contain to regulation, as they host the Bulls back at Barclays tomorrow night.
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