Bucks pull out win over Clippers
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Milwaukee, WI (SportsNetwork.com) - The Bucks had to sweat out a late video review, but Brandon Knight scored 22 points and Milwaukee survived a late rally from the Los Angeles Clippers for a 111-106 win on Saturday.
Milwaukee's 12-point lead with 4 1/2 minutes to play was trimmed to five following a 7-0 Clippers run.
The Bucks held a narrow lead the rest of the way, but Jamal Crawford stepped into a deep 3-pointer with three seconds remaining to make things interesting. His heave made it a three-point game, and Knight's ensuing inbounds pass was deflected out of bounds.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Referees went to the video monitor to determine if the ball hit Knight before landing, but the Bucks were ultimately rewarded the ball. Knight made two free throws to seal the outcome.
Giannis Antetokounmpo donated 20 points and Larry Sanders had 15 with nine boards for the Bucks, who had lost five of six coming in.
"They are well coached and they are talented," Bucks coach Jason Kidd said of the Clippers. "They play to the end. For our group, we play to the end. Looking at it as a whole, guys gave great effort."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Clippers, who have lost two in a row on the heels of a season-long nine- game winning streak, got contributions from its role players while the stars struggled.
Matt Barnes scored a game- and season-high 26 points and J.J. Redick dropped 25, while Chris Paul and Blake Griffin netted 10 points apiece.
"The Bucks played well, but when you allow a team to shoot 56 percent from the field you probably lose the game and we did," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Paul, the league's most sure-handed player, has committed six turnovers in back-to-back games.
The Clippers were the better team out of the gate. Redick's jumper eight minutes into the game gave them a 24-15 lead, but the Bucks were back within two after the first.
The hosts climbed in front with a prolonged 15-6 flurry during the second and led by as many as 11 late in the period.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Milwaukee held its lead until late in the third, when Barnes scored five straight points following a pair of Crawford free throws.
But Jerryd Bayless and Kendall Marshall hit 3s during an 8-0 run that put the Bucks up 92-81 with 5:51 to play.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Bucks (12-12) didn't win their 12th game until March 3 last season ... Khris Middleton scored 14 for Milwaukee ... The Bucks shot 56.6 percent from the floor while LA finished 39-of-91 for 42.9 percent ... Crawford scored 17 points.