Bucks beat Heat to advance in Tourney

The NBA’s first In-Season Tournament has wrapped up group play and the Milwaukee Bucks are among the 8 teams still vying for the inaugural NBA Cup.   The Bucks beat the Heat in Miami Tuesday night 131-124 to finish Group B play a perfect 4-0.   The tournament games count in the regular season standings and the Bucks are now 13-5 after another big night from Milwaukee’s big two.  Giannis Antetokounmpo poured in 33 points with 10 rebounds while Damian Lillard nearly matched that with 32 points and nine assists.  Khris Middleton added 17.  All three players made big shots down the stretch as the Bucks outscored Miami 38-27 in the final quarter.    The Heat played without All-Star Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro.   Bam Adebayo led Miami with 31 points.  By winning Group B, the Bucks join 7 other clubs in the quarterfinals and knockout stage of the tournament.     Other group winners in the Eastern Conference were Boston and Indiana.   The 4th team in the East is a Wild Card and that was captured by the New York Knicks who beat the Charlotte Hornets 115-91.   New York needed a blowout win because the Wild Card spot came down to point differential in the four group games.    The Bucks will host the Knicks in the quarterfinal round next week.   Winners will advance to semifinal games on a neutral floor December 7 with the In NBA Cup awarded to the championship game winner December 9 in Las Vegas.    The Western Conference quarterfinal matchups will have the Los Angeles Lakers playing the Phoenix Suns with the Sacramento Kings taking on the New Orleans Pelicans.