Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard starred as the Bucks beat the Detroit Pistons 128-107 to clinch East Group B undefeated.
Antetokounmpo – NBA MVP in 2019 and 2020 – scored 28 points with seven rebounds and eight assists while Lillard scored 27.
The Bucks scored 23 three-pointers during their seventh-consecutive victory and will host the Orlando Magic in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, a 37-point performance from Luka Doncic inspired the Dallas Mavericks to overcome a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit and beat the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 and secure the West wild card spot.
They will travel to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the next round after they thrashed the Utah Jazz 133-106 to clinch West Group B over the Phoenix Suns.
The Knicks will host the Atlanta Hawks – who won East Group C ahead of the Celtics – on Wednesday.
The Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors will contest the last quarter-final after winning their groups despite final-game losses to the Sacramento Kings and the Denver Nuggets respectively.
The quarter-final victors will advance to semi-finals played on 14 December in Las Vegas, with the final three days later in the city.
In Tuesday’s other games, the LA Clippers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 127-105, the Phoenix Suns defeated the San Antonio Spurs 104-93 and the Cleveland Cavaliers thrashed the Washington Wizards 118-87.
The Philadelphia 76ers won on the road at the Charlotte Hornets (110-104) while the Toronto Raptors beat the Indiana Pacers 122-111.
