(My Sportsbook) - Just a couple of weeks ago the Bucks seemed to be in danger of dropping out of the playoff picture. Milwaukee won just twice during a 10- game stretch from March 11-28 to fall five games below .500 and was on the outside looking in as far as the postseason was concerned.

However, the Bucks have since won six of their last seven games and clinched a postseason berth with their most recent victory -- a 105-103 win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday.

Milwaukee currently holds the eighth position in the Eastern Conference and would face top-seeded Detroit if the playoffs started today. The matchup isn't necessarily an imposing one for the Bucks, as the Pistons have dropped five of their last six games and are playing without their heart and soul, center Ben Wallace (knee injury).

With only two games left on their regular-season schedule, the Bucks still have a chance to catch the Orlando Magic for the seventh spot. Orlando, which has three games left in its regular season, owns a 1 1/2-game edge over Milwaukee.

In what could be a huge matchup, the Magic and Bucks face off in Milwaukee on the final day of the regular season. Orlando has claimed two of the previous three meetings this year.

Reserve Toni Kukoc has been the story for the Bucks over the past two games.

On Wednesday, Kukoc scored 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting and also collected eight assists, seven rebounds and three blocks in leading Milwaukee to a 112-92 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Kukoc followed that performance with a team-high 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting in Friday's important victory over Toronto. He also finished with eight rebounds, four assists and three steals.

The Bucks had to wait until the very end of their game against the Raptors to celebrate their first playoff berth since the 2000-01 season.

Neither team was able to gain a sizable advantage during the final minutes of Friday's game. Tim Thomas made 1-of-2 free throws in the final seconds of the fourth quarter to give the Bucks a two-point edge. But the Raptors had one last chance and Alvin Williams drove to the basket for a layup that missed before Jerome Williams stuffed in the miss. However, after a review it was determined to be after the final buzzer.

"We're fortunate. Alvin put his head down and got by our perimeter defense," Milwaukee coach George Karl said. "We played small instead of big and we didn't really have a shot blocker back there. Fortunately, time ran out."

Gary Payton, who the Bucks acquired to get them over the hump, finished with 24 points and six assists, while backcourt mate Sam Cassell added 15 points and eight dimes. Thomas ended with 17 points and Desmond Mason totaled 11 points, 10 boards and seven assists.

"It was a big win by this ballclub," said Cassell. "We're going to enjoy it. We're in the playoffs, back where we're supposed to be."