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The Milwaukee Bucks, as luck would have it, would be informed during their game against the Miami Heat Wednesday night that they were officially eliminated form the Eastenr Conference playoff chase. The Bucks mindset: No playoffs? No problem.

They would catch a bit of a break as the Heat would be without the services of Dwyane Wade, who was out with a thigh injury.

Miami certainly would need him in this contest as they shot only 41 percent and Milwaukee would take over late in the fourth, taking the 90-85 win at American Airlines Arena.

Down by as many as 14 in the first half, the Heat got to within one with 3:56 left in the second quarter on a dunk by Joel Anthony. The Bucks scored the next four points, making it 45-40; neither team scored during the final 2:45 of the half, with Milwaukee going 0-for-6 while Miami went 0-for-5.

After both teams returned to the hardwood in the third, James ended the Heat scoring drought with an 18-footer at the 11:02 mark.

The Bucks’ scoring drought continued for another 1:33, which ended on a Carlos Delfino shot-clock-beating 3-pointer that put Milwaukee ahead 48-44. the fifth – and final – lead change took place with 2:27 left in the contest, when Delfino hit a trey for an 81-79 lead, a lead that would remain until the final horn.

The Bucks were led by John Salmons with 17 points, along with 5 rebounds and an assist while Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Corey Maggette adding 14 each – with Mbah a Moute grabbing 12 boards, along with 3 steals while Maggette grabbed 4 rebounds and dished out 3 assists.

LeBron James led the Heat with a game-high 29 points (including three 3-pointers), along with 2 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks while Chris Bosh added 18 with 7 rebounds, an assist, along with a steal and a block. Mike Miller, while scoring only eight, grabbed 12 rebounds while Anthony scored eight while grabbing 11 rebounds.

Both teams return to action on Friday night as Milwaukee (32-46) flies north to Detroit to take on the Pistons while Miami (54-24) remains at home to host the Charlotte Bobcats.