Young, White help Bulls top starter-less Bucks 118-112

Thaddeus Young scored 20 points, Coby White added 19 and the Chicago Bulls beat Milwaukee 118-112 with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the rest of the Bucks’ starters missing the regular-season finale Sunday night.

The Bucks ruled Khris Middleton out because of lingering soreness in his left ankle, then scratched Antetokounmpo and the rest of the starters once it became clear the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference was out of reach.

The Brooklyn Nets clinched the position by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers. That locked Milwaukee into the third spot and a first-round matchup against the Miami Heat.

Milwaukee Bucks players Thanasis Antetokounmpo, left, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, give five before an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)

Bucks rookie Jordan Nwora set career highs with 34 points and 14 rebounds. Jeff Teague scored 23. But with its top players out, Milwaukee came up short after winning eight of nine.

The Bulls prevented the Bucks from becoming the first NBA team to go unbeaten in its division, with an 11-1 mark against the Central. Chicago also snapped a 12-game losing streak to Milwaukee.

Lauri Markkanen scored 17, Ryan Arcidiacono set season highs with 14 points and four 3-pointers, and the Bulls finished their first season under coach Billy Donovan on a winning note — even though Zach Lavine (right knee tendinitis) and Nikola Vucevic (hip) did not play.

Chicago Bulls forward Thaddeus Young, bottom, looks to pass as Milwaukee Bucks forward Mamadi Diakite guards during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)

The Bulls were up by four early in the fourth when Arcidiacono hit three 3-pointers in a span of a minute as the lead grew to 100-89.

TIP-INS

Bucks: Middleton missed his fourth game this season. “We feel like if we can kind of get on top of it this 24, 48 hours, I think he’ll be in a great place heading into the week of prep and playoffs,” coach Mike Budenholzer said. ... F Thanasis Antetokounmpo exited with a sore right patella tendon.

Milwaukee Bucks players Thanasis Antetokounmpo, left, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, give five before an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)

Bulls: Donovan is missing the playoffs for the first time in six seasons as an NBA coach. He got there each of the past five years with Oklahoma City. “I've probably been in situations in college where you probably knew you were not going to make the NCAA Tournament,” said Donovan, who led Florida to two NCAA championships in 19 years. “It came down to your conference tournament, and a lot of times in those situations, it was having to win four games in four days, which is really challenging.” ... Daniel Theis (sprained right hip), Tomas Satoransky (sprained left ankle) and Troy Brown Jr. (sprained left ankle) were unavailable.

UP NEXT

Bucks: Open the playoffs at home against Miami.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Jordan Nwora, right, drives to the basket past Chicago Bulls forward Thaddeus Young (21) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)

Bulls: Season is over.

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Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams, right, shoots over Milwaukee Bucks guard Elijah Bryant during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Jordan Nwora, right, blocks a shot by Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, right, talks with guard Devon Dotson during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks in Chicago, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Sam Merrill, left, and Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams watch teammates during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo looks up the score board as celebrates after guard Elijah Bryant scored a basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP PhotoNam Y. Huh)