National Basketball Association
Milwaukee 140, Detroit 133
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, April 13, 2025
Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Officials:
#72 JT Orr, #10 John Goble, #22 JB DeRosa
Attendance:
17796
By Field Level Media
Pat Connaughton saved 10 of his career-high 43 points for overtime, Kyle Kuzma chipped in with 22 in just 12 minutes and the Milwaukee Bucks outlasted the visiting Detroit Pistons 140-133 on Sunday afternoon in a meaningless regular-season finale that took a back seat to Malik Beasley's pursuit of the NBA's 3-point crown.
The Pistons' Beasley, who began the day with 312 3-pointers, one fewer than league leader Anthony Edwards, buried seven of 11 attempts from deep in just 19 minutes to move ahead by six. However, Edwards hit seven 3-pointers to take the title 320-319 in the Minnesota Timberwolves' win over Utah Jazz.
Beasley finished with a team-high 23 points. The seven 3-pointers equaled his third-most this season.
The Pistons (44-38) entered the game locked into sixth playoff position in the East, where they will take on the third-seeded New York Knicks. They rested regular starters Cade Cunningham, Isaiah Stewart and Ausar Thompson in the rematch of a game they lost 125-119 Friday at home.
Likewise, the Bucks (48-34) knew beforehand that they'd finish fifth in the East and draw the No. 4 Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs. They sat out Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis, as well as Damian Lillard, who hopes to return from a calf injury in time for the postseason.
With mostly reserves on the court, the Pistons used a 37-point third quarter to erase most of an early 22-point deficit and set up a tight finish that featured Detroit's Lindy Waters III connecting on a pair of 3-pointers in the final 14.2 seconds of regulation to send the game into overtime.
Fouled shooting a 3-pointer, Connaughton opened the extra session by making two of three free throws to give the Bucks a lead they never relinquished en route to an eighth consecutive win.
Connaughton also found time for a game-high 11 rebounds for the Bucks. Tyler Smith went for a career-high 20 points and Pete Nance added a career-high 19. Jamaree Bouyea also recorded career-highs in points with 15 and assists with a team-high seven.
Waters backed Beasley for the Pistons with 18 points, all coming on 3-pointers, as Detroit wrapped up the regular season with four losses in its last five games. Marcus Sasser also had 18 points to complement a game-high 10 assists. Simone Fontecchio and Bobi Klintman added 15 points apiece, with Klintman's total marking a career-high to go with a career-high six assists.
Tolu Smith aided the Detroit cause with 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds in his NBA debut, while Paul Reed had eight points, six rebounds and a career-high-tying five assists.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
Detroit |
|
Milwaukee |
Malik Beasley 23 |
Scoring |
Pat Connaughton 43 |
Marcus Sasser 10 |
Assists |
Jamaree Bouyea 7 |
Tolu Smith 8 |
Rebounds |
Pat Connaughton 11 |
Marcus Sasser 3 |
Free Throws Made |
Pat Connaughton 6 |
Tobias Harris 2 |
Steals |
Jamaree Bouyea 2 |
Ronald Holland II 1 |
Blocks |
Jamaree Bouyea 2 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
Detroit
|
133 |
47.7 |
22-59 |
9-14 |
35 |
42 |
3 |
9 |
13 |
Milwaukee
|
140 |
58.1 |
23-44 |
17-22 |
30 |
38 |
7 |
5 |
21 |
Upcoming Games
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Milwaukee will play their next game on the road against Indiana. The Bucks have a W/L % of .660 after a win and .486 after a loss.
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Detroit will play their next game on the road against New York. The Pistons have a W/L % of .511 after a win and .568 after a loss.