With roughly 20 or so games remaining for each team in the 2021-22 season, every contest starts to behold more meaning than usual.
That makes the Milwaukee Bucks’ miraculous fourth-quarter comeback win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday all that much more important.
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The Heat were in the driver’s seat, leading by 14 points on the road with just over six minutes to play in the final frame. They even led by four points – with the ball – with just 34 seconds on the clock after Bam Adebayo knocked down a clutch midrange pull-up and Giannis Antetokounmpo missed a layup.
Somehow, that’s when things took a turn in Milwaukee’s advantage.
A costly turnover from Tyler Herro turned into a quick 3-ball for Khris Middleton going the other way to make it a one-point game.
KHRIS IS KHASH!! pic.twitter.com/1B2gjTkmaU
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) March 3, 2022
From there, aggressive defense on Miami’s inbounds attempt resulted in a jump ball, and that’s when Jrue Holiday put on his cape to win the game.
Jrue Holiday hits the game winner for the @Bucks in Milwaukee! pic.twitter.com/iurxUZoI93
— NBA (@NBA) March 3, 2022
Holiday played bully ball, using his physicality to create space for the game-winning bucket. The Bucks closed the game on a remarkable 21-6 run to complete the comeback, giving them one of their biggest wins of the season.
How it affects the Eastern Conference playoff picture
Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press put it best after the game.
Heat lost more than a game tonight. They could have gone five up in the standings — plus held the tiebreaker — over the Bucks. Instead, Milwaukee closes within three of Heat in the East race and ties season series.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) March 3, 2022
Miami had a chance to maintain a two-game lead over the Chicago Bulls for the No. 1 seed in the East, while also creating space from the surging Philadelphia 76ers (who also won on Wednesday) and the Bucks.
Instead of taking a five-game lead over Milwaukee, the Bucks trim their chase for the top seed down to just three games while also knotting the tiebreaker with the Heat at two games apiece for the season.
Now, the top six teams in the Eastern Conference are within striking distance of the No. 1 seed, all within five games of swiping the top spot.
| Rank | Team | Record | Win Pct. | Games Back |
| 1. | Heat | 41-22 | .651 | – |
| 2. | Bulls | 39-23 | .629 | 1.5 |
| 3. | 76ers | 38-23 | .623 | 2.0 |
| 4. | Bucks | 38-25 | .603 | 3.0 |
| 5. | Cavaliers | 36-26 | .581 | 4.5 |
| 6. | Celtics | 37-27 | .578 | 4.5 |
| 7. | Raptors | 34-27 | .557 | 6.0 |
| 8. | Nets | 32-31 | .508 | 9.0 |
| 9. | Hornets | 31-33 | .484 | 10.5 |
| 10. | Hawks | 29-32 | .475 | 11.0 |
When we get down to the final few games of the season, this one outcome could possibly have a massive impact on seeding for what should be a grueling Eastern Conference playoff race.