Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Chicago Bulls in the second half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 7, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bulls 121-106. Mitchell Leff/Getty Images/AFP
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo opted not to play in Sunday’s regular-season finale against the host Cleveland Cavaliers.
With Antetokounmpo out, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid captured the NBA scoring title. Embiid averaged 30.6 points per game for the season entering play Sunday, just ahead of Antetokounmpo’s 29.9.
In addition to Antetokounmpo, forward Brook Lopez, center Bobby Portis, guards Grayson Allen (left hip soreness) and George Hill (right abdominal strain) also sat out Sunday
Earlier on Sunday, the Bucks announced center Serge Ibaka will sit out due to a non-COVID-related illness.
Milwaukee (51-30) resides in second place in the Eastern Conference, one game ahead of both the Boston Celtics (50-31) and 76ers (50-31).
The Bucks can clinch second place with a win over the Cavaliers (43-38) or a loss by the Celtics in Memphis against the Grizzlies.
Milwaukee, however, could fall to third should it lose to Cleveland and Boston defeat Memphis. The Celtics would claim the No. 2 seed based off the fifth tiebreaker: having a better record than the Bucks against fellow East playoff teams.