Bucks' Budenholzer clinches East All-Star coaching gig over Raptors' Nurse

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer will coach in the All-Star Game after securing the top record in the Eastern Conference after the Bucks' 105-92 win over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday.

The Bucks are now 1.5 games up on the Raptors for the East's top spot and clinched the regular-season head-to-head tiebreaker with Toronto after Thursday's victory, winning the season series 3-1. They defeated the Raptors in October and December before falling to their East rivals in early January.

Toronto head coach Nick Nurse had an opportunity to stay alive for the All-Star gig with a victory, but the Iowan would've needed a Raptors win over the L.A. Clippers on Sunday and a Bucks loss to the Washington Wizards on Saturday.

Budenholzer will coach his star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo's team on Feb. 17 and could potentially have two Bucks on the roster if Khris Middleton is selected by the Greek Freak in the All-Star draft on Feb. 7.

Milwaukee (37-13) has won 19 of its last 23 games and currently sports the best record in the Association.