Bucks 99, Wizards 92
MILWAUKEE -- Khris Middleton scored 14 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter as the Milwaukee Bucks pulled away from the Washington Wizards down the stretch for a 99-92 victory on Thursday at the Bradley Center.
Middleton hit 9 of 17 shots but also set his teammates up well, notching nine assists while grabbing six rebounds and five steals.
Forwards Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 17 apiece for Milwaukee, which also got 12 points and nine rebounds from center Greg Monroe.
The Wizards had five players score in double-figures. Shooting guard Bradley Beal led the way with 19 while point guard John Wall added 15, and forward Otto Porter, Jr. and centers Marcin Gortat and Nene Hilario finished with 14 apiece.
Washington hit 11 of its first 17 shots, including three of its first four 3-point attempts to go up 10 late in the first quarter but Milwaukee's defense clamped down and the Wizards made only three of their final 28 attempts from distance.
Milwaukee went 6 for 23 from the field in the first quarter but connected at a 63 percent clip and made 12 of 16 free throws in the second to go into halftime up 55-46.
The lead wouldn't last as Washington opened with a 10-2 run and managed to go back ahead 70-69. The score was tied four times through the fourth, but Middleton's 3-pointer with 5:43 to play but the Bucks up for good 84-81.
NOTES: Bucks coach Jason Kidd opted to stick with the same shuffled lineup he used the last time out, so again C Greg Monroe and PG Michael Carter-Williams came off the bench while C Miles Plumlee and G O.J. Mayo moved into the starting unit. ... Milwaukee was again without F John Henson, who hasn't practiced since sustaining a back injury in Milwaukee's 107-100 victory over Orlando on Jan. 26. ... Washington G Gary Neal did not participate in the team's shootaround Thursday, and he remained sidelined with a sore right leg. ... The Wizards were also without Fs Drew Gooden and Kris Humphries against the Bucks; both have been battling illnesses. ... Washington took the first three meetings with the Bucks this season, but failed to sweep Milwaukee for the first time since the 1974-75 season.