Giannis Antetokounmpo put up a career-high 52 points – but his Milwaukee Bucks side were still downed 130-125 by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Antetokounmpo hit 19 of 21 free throws to pass his previous milestone by eight points.

But Joel Embiid also recorded a massive scoring night with 40 points, 15 rebounds and six assists to hold off the league-leading Bucks and clinch a playoff berth for the second season in a row.

In New York, the Knicks went to the wire against the Los Angeles Lakers, edging the win 124-123.

LeBron James closed in on the game-winner with 2.3 seconds on the clock but was blocked by Mario Hezonja, handing the Knicks their first win in eight games.

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Emmanuel Mudiay finished with 28 points and eight assists, rounding off the scoring with two free throws with 22 seconds to play.

Lou Williams, meanwhile, hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to push the Los Angeles Clippers 119-116 over the Brooklyn Nets.

The point guard scored 25 points overall after holding off a late rally from Brooklyn, with his game-winning shot giving coach Doc Rivers his 300th win with the Clippers.

Chris Paul scored six three-pointers to tie his career best – finishing with 25 points and 10 assists – as the Houston Rockets overcame the Minnesota Timberwolves 117-102.

The Timberwolves have now lost three straight games.

In the night’s other games, Miami Heat held on to their eighth spot in the Eastern Conference with a 93-75 win over the Charlotte Hornets, and the Detroit Pistons defeated the Toronto Raptors 110-107, with Blake Griffin scoring 25 points in the victory.

Elsewhere, the Sacramento Kings beat the Chicago Bulls 129-102 and the Orlando Magic saw off the Atlanta Hawks 101-91.