MILWAUKEE – Ersan Ilyasova had a career-high 34 points and the Milwaukee Bucks held off the Indiana Pacers, 111-107, on Thursday night.
Khris Middleton added 17 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo had 16 markers for the Bucks. They have won two straight after breaking a six-game losing streak.
George Hill missed a potential tying three-pointer in the closing seconds for Indiana.
C.J. Miles scored 26 points, Hill added 24 and C.J. Watson had 23 points for the Pacers. They were without forward David West because of an allergic reaction.
Milwaukee jumped on Indiana early and led by double-digits for most of the game until the Pacers began to chip away in the fourth quarter, thanks in large part to a flurry of three-pointers by Hill.
Hill hit three 3-pointers in under 3 minutes, the third of which cut Milwaukee’s lead to 2 with 5:41 remaining. But Michael Carter-Williams hit a driving layup and was fouled, hitting the free throw to complete the three-point play. Middleton then hit a three-pointer, putting the Bucks up, 100-92.
Indiana came back again, cutting the lead back to three on a 3-pointer by Watson and a driving layup by Luis Scola.
The Bucks sank four straight free throws and appeared to be on their way to putting the game away, only to have Carter-Williams foul Watson on a 3-point attempt. Watson hit two of three free throws to cut the lead to 4 with 1:31 left.
Miles missed a 3-point attempt for Indiana, but officials gave the ball to Indiana on a review of an ensuing out of bounds play. Roy Hibbert then hit a jumper to cut the lead to 2 with 19.9 seconds left.
Antetokounmpo was fouled and hit one of two free throws, giving Indiana the ball trailing by 3 with 11.6 left. Hill then missed a frantic 3-point attempt with 1.8 seconds remaining and Jerryd Bayless hit a free throw to seal the game for Milwaukee. (AP)