After posting a 106-95 victory Wednesday night in Boston, the Bucks finished the regular season with a 46-36 record but had to wait out the end of the Miami-New Jersey contest before getting their playoff assignment.
The Heat needed two overtimes to beat the lowly Nets, 94-86, and in doing so, clinched the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference.
That means the sixth-seeded Bucks will open the postseason against Atlanta, a team the Bucks went 1-2 against this season.
Game 1 of the best-of-seven series will take place at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Phillips Arena in Atlanta. Game 2 will be played Tuesday, April 20 at 6 p.m.
The series moves to the Bradley Center for Games 3 and 4 on Saturday April 24 (6 p.m.) and Monday, April 26, respectively.
If necessary, Game 5 would be played in Atlanta on Wednesday, April 28; Game 6 would be back in Milwaukee on Friday, April 30 and a seventh game would be played in Atlanta on Sunday, May 2.
Times and national broadcasters for games four through seven will be announced at a later date.
The two teams played each other three times this season, with Atlanta winning twice. The host Hawks rallied late and forced overtime in a 106-102 victory on Feb. 28.
Back in Milwaukee on March 22, John Salmons scored 25 points during the final 17 minutes to rally the Bucks to a 98-95 victory.
The season series wrapped up Monday night in Milwaukee with Atlanta leaving town with a 104-96 victory.
The Bucks and Hawks have faced off three times before in the playoffs, with Milwaukee winning first-round series in 1984 and 1989 and losing a first-round series in 1988. All three of those series went the full five games.
Should the Bucks advance past the first round, they would play the winner of the Orlando-Charlotte series. The Magic enter as the second seed while Charlotte finished seventh in the East.
On top of the bracket, top-seeded Cleveland has home-court advantage throughout the playoffs and opens against Chicago, which won Wednesday night to grab the eighth spot, while the Celtics open against Miami.
Tickets still available: Single-game and full post-season packages are available at the Bradley Center ticket office or at Bucks.com. Fans can also buy tickets by calling (800) 462-2849.
Bucks playoff history
Playoff Appearances: 25
Overall Playoff Record: 101-110
NBA Championships: 1 (1971)
2006
Lost to Detroit, 4-1, first round
2004
Lost to Detroit, 4-1, first round
2003
Lost to New Jersey, 4-2, first round
2001
Defeated Orlando, 3-1, first round
Defeated Charlotte, 4-3, conference semifinals
Lost to Philadelphia, 4-3, conference finals
2000
Lost to Indiana, 3-2, first round
1999
Lost to Indiana, 3-0, first round
1991
Lost to Philadelphia, 3-0, first round
1990
Lost to Chicago, 3-1, first round
1989
Defeated Atlanta, 3-2, first round
Lost to Detroit, 4-0, conference semifinals
1988
Lost to Atlanta, 3-2, first round
1987
Defeated Philadelphia, 3-2, first round
Lost to Boston, 4-3, conference semifinals
1986
Defeated New Jersey, 3-0, first round
Defeated Philadelphia, 4-3, conference semifinals
Lost to Boston, 4-0, conference finals
1985
Defeated Chicago, 3-1, first round
Lost to Philadelphia, 4-0, conference semifinals
1984
Defeated Atlanta, 3-2, first round
Defeated New Jersey, 4-2, conference semifinals
Lost to Boston, 4-1, conference finals
1983
Defeated Boston, 4-0, conference semifinals
Lost to Philadelphia, 4-1, conference finals
1982
Lost to Philadelphia, 4-2, conference semifinals
1981
Lost to Philadelphia, 4-3, conference semifinals
1980
Lost to Seattle, 4-3, conference semifinals
1978
Defeated Phoenix, 2-0, first round
Lost to Denver, 4-3, conference semifinals
1976
Lost to Detroit, 2-1, first round
1974
Defeated L.A. Lakers, 4-1, conference semifinals
Defeated Chicago, 4-0, conference finals
Lost to Boston, 4-3, NBA Finals
1973
Lost to Golden State, 4-2, conference semifinals
1972
Defeated Golden State, 4-1, conference semifinals
Lost to L.A. Lakers, 4-2, conference finals
1971
Defeated San Francisco, 4-1, conference semifinals
Defeated L.A. Lakers, 4-1, conference finals
Defeated Baltimore, 4-0, NBA Finals
1970
Defeated Philadelphia, 4-1, division semifinals
Lost to New York, 4-1, division finals
