
It's been a rare luxury to have three consecutive days off during this condensed NBA season. The Milwaukee Bucks' layoff may have come at the perfect time to gear up for one final, frantic postseason push.
The Bucks begin a stretch of six games in nine days to close the regular season Wednesday night against the host Washington Wizards.
Trying close a 1 1/2-game gap behind eighth-place Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee (29-31) likely can't afford to slip up against a lesser opponent.
After facing a Wizards team which is second from the bottom in the East, the Bucks have a challenge at third-place Indiana, but then they return home to play New Jersey and Toronto before what could be a crucial showdown with the 76ers.