The Milwaukee Bucks will miss the NBA playoffs for the first time in 10 years following a 127-95 defeat by the San Antonio Spurs.
The Bucks have lost nine of their past 11 games and were without their star Giannis Antetokounmpo for the sixth game in a row as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.
It was an eighth consecutive win for the Spurs as they remain hot on the heels of defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder for both the top seed in the Western Conference and the best record in the league.
The Spurs are two games behind the Thunder with eight games left to play.
The play-in tournament begins on 14 April, with the playoffs starting four days later.
Stephon Castle had his fourth triple-double of the season – 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists – and was among seven Spurs players who scored in double figures led by Victor Wembanyama, who had 23 points and 15 rebounds.
Last week, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers rejected a claim by the National Basketball Players Association that his side were keeping a healthy Antetokounmpo out of games against the wishes of the 10-time All-Star and two-time league MVP.
“He’s not [healthy],” Rivers said when asked about the NBPA’s assertion that the 31-year-old is healthy and not being allowed to play so the Bucks can improve their NBA Draft lottery positioning by tanking.
“He’s progressing. He’s just not healthy.”
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