Even without Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic, the Miami Heat did not make it easy for the team with league's top record.
But the final score says otherwise.
The shorthanded Heat led for most of the game, but the Milwaukee Bucks dominated the second half to make it look like just another blowout victory in a 130-116 win over Miami on Thursday at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. Miami's final lead came with 4:36 to play.
Butler (right foot soreness) and Dragic (sprained left ankle) did not play for Miami, while Milwaukee was at full strength.
The Bucks clinched the East's top record with Thursday's win.
For a while, it looked like the Heat was on its way to another surprising win after defeating the Boston Celtics on Tuesday without Butler.
The shorthanded Heat built a 23-point lead in the first half, but the Bucks dominated the second half to complete the comeback. Milwaukee outscored Miami 74-43 over the final two quarters.
Next up for Miami is a Saturday matchup with the Phoenix Suns, which have won their first four seeding games.
Five takeaways from the Heat's loss to the Bucks on Thursday at The Arena:
