Morning State Sports Briefs: Bucks in good position for NBA playoff bid

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MILWAUKEE - Almost a third of the Milwaukee Bucks’ season is over – and for the moment at least, they’re in good shape for a playoff spot.

At 14-12, the Bucks hold the sixth of eight post-season slots in the Eastern Conference – and there appears to be 10 teams in the hunt. Coach Scott Skiles says everybody’s trying to create a little separation, including his team – and it’s hard to do because so many are bunched up. Miami, New York, Atlanta are comfortably in the one-two-and-three slots – but after that, only three-and-a-half games separate seven teams. Skiles says the Bucks need to win against the sub-.500 clubs like Cleveland – whom Milwaukee lost to on Saturday night. Also, Skiles says the Bucks need to find a way to win at home. They’re just 7-6 at the Bradley Center, and they’ll host the Brooklyn Nets tonight. The Bucks will play four of their next five games at home. Skiles says his players know the importance of winning at home – and they’ve just got to get it done.

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Two men’s college basketball teams and one women’s team from Wisconsin are heading to Las Vegas to compete in the annual D3hoops.com Classic. The UW-La Crosse and Wisconsin Lutheran men, and the Carroll women are among 14 teams competing from Friday through Sunday. Carroll will open the women’s event on Friday afternoon against La Verne – and the Pioneers from Waukesha will face Coe College on Saturday. On the men’s side, La Crosse will play North Central of Illinois on Saturday, and Hardin-Simmons on Sunday. Wisconsin Lutheran will take on Hendrix Saturday and Linfield Sunday.

Tags: wisconsin sports, sports, proam, bucks