Waiters paces Heat in skid-snapping win over Bucks
MIAMI -- Dion Waiters scored 23 points and the Miami Heat snapped a six-game losing streak with a 96-73 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.
The losing skid was the longest since 2008 for the Heat (3-8).
The Heat got some revenge against the Bucks (5-6), who had won their previous three meetings in Miami. Even with the win, the Heat is just 2-6 in their past eight games against the Bucks.
Point guard Goran Dragic, who had missed the past three games due to an injured left ankle, returned to the starting lineup and contributed 16 points and four assists.
The return of Dragic meant the fourth different lineup in the past four games for a Miami team that will now play 10 of its next 13 games on the road.
Heat center Hassan Whiteside, who had averaged 19 points and 19 rebounds in the past four games, struggled early with foul trouble but finished with his 10th double-double of the season. He had 12 points, 17 rebounds and seven blocks.
The seven blocks -- which all came in the second half -- are the most for any NBA player this season. Whiteside had just two points and four rebounds at halftime.
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was also slowed by foul trouble, was held to 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Former Heat forward Michael Beasley had a strong game for Milwaukee. He came off the bench to post 13 points and 10 rebounds.
The Bucks led 27-21 after an odd first quarter. Each team's biggest star exited quickly after picking up two fouls. Antetokounmpo sat out the final 8:39 of the quarter. Whiteside sat out the final 5:43.
Milwaukee dominated the first several minutes, putting together an 18-2 run and taking a 20-6 lead. But Miami made a 15-5 run to get back in the game.
Miami rallied to tie the score 48-48 at intermission. That first half featured eight tie scores and 10 lead changes.
The Heat surged ahead, took a 67-62 lead after three quarters and held on from there.
NOTES: Milwaukee was the less-rested team after losing at the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. Miami hadn't played since Tuesday. ... Heat SF Justise Winslow, their first-round pick out of Duke last year, has regressed in his shooting. Winslow, who missed his second straight game due to an injured left wrist, leads Miami in minutes but is making just 33.1 percent from the floor and 21.4 percent on three-pointers. Last season, his numbers were 42.2 and 27.6 percent. ... With SG Khris Middleton (hamstring surgery) likely out for the season, the Bucks are missing the career-high 18.2 points he averaged in 2015-2016, tops on the team. Milwaukee traded for SG Tony Snell, and the former Chicago Bulls first-round pick is averaging just 8.0 points as a starter. ... Up next, Miami starts a four-game road trip on Saturday at the Washington Wizards. ... Milwaukee returns home to face the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.