LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — All the Brooklyn Nets were missing Tuesday were their leaders in salary, points, points per game, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and 3-pointers. If that wasn't enough, the feel-good story of Jamal Crawford's return to the NBA lasted for about six minutes.
And they won.
The severely undermanned Nets beat Milwaukee 119-116 on Tuesday, temporarily delaying what will be the Bucks' clinching of the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Bucks didn't use Brook Lopez or Wesley Matthews at all, plus didn't play All-Stars Giannis Antetokounmpo or Khris Middleton after halftime, though it should be noted that the Nets were winning at intermission anyway.