Apr 1, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) and Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams (5) battle for control of the ball during the fourth quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 95-91. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Many fans in the Milwaukee Bucks community want to avoid the Chicago Bulls in the playoffs. After tonight the Bulls may want to do the same. For the first time under the Tom Thibodeau era the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Chicago Bulls at the Bradley Center, prevailing 95-91 against their I-94 rivals.
Amid a a chorus of “Let’s go Bulls” chants, it was Khris Middleton and the Milwaukee Bucks who answered the bell. Middleton scored eight points in just under two minutes, swaying an 84-81 Bull’s advantage into a 90-88 Buck’s lead.
The Buck’s late game heroics may never have happened without Michael Carter William’s 21 points (including 15 straight in the second quarter). His jumper, unsurprisingly, was absent–but his mean streak wasn’t. He brutalized the undersized Aaron Brooks as Carter-Williams spinned, whirled and twirled as he found clean looks in the paint time and time again.
Despite Carter-William’s second quarter clinic, the Bucks were hamstrung by three technical fouls (Mayo, Bayless, and Kidd), a 37-18 free throw disparity, and a 25 point night from Jimmy Butler.
The Bulls had two golden opportunities to tie the game in the closing seconds, but Nikola Mirotic missed both potential game-trying three-pointers.
The victory carries twofold significance for the Bucks. First, the Bucks finally beat the Bulls and demonstrated the ability to be a punchy out in the playoffs should the teams meet again.
Secondly the Buck’s victory sends the Bulls to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, giving the Toronto Raptors a prime opportunity to claim the third seed.
Here’s how the playoff picture would look if the season ended today.
Tonight’s victory will go a long way in sealing the Buck’s playoff birth (their magic number is now four), let’s take a closer look in out Milwaukee Bucks grades and reactions.
Next: Reactions: The Good