The Bucks needed this one.
Guard Khris Middleton scored 33 points and Greg Monroe added 23 points to key a balanced attack as Milwaukee outscored the Pacers 120-116 in Indianapolis.
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How big was this for Milwaukee? The Bucks (13-21) had lost three in a row, and eight of their past 11 games.
A 20-6 run by the Bucks in the third quarter helped turn the tide, and Milwaukee held off an Indiana rally in the closing minutes.
Starting forwards Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo and reserve point guard Jerryd Bayless each tallied 14 points for Milwaukee. Paul George scored 31 to lead the Pacers (18-14).
Highlight
Middleton threads a no-look pass to Parker for the slam finish on a Bucks fast break:
Stud of the Night
Coming off a blowout loss to the Mavericks on Wednesday, the Warriors appeared on the verge of the unthinkable Thursday — a second straight defeat. Playing once again without star Stephen Curry, on the road in Houston, the Warriors struggled to put the Rockets away. But Klay Thompson proved that one Splash Brother is sometimes all you need. The 6-7 guard scored 38 points and added seven rebounds to carry Golden State to a 114-110 victory. He averaged 24.2 points per game in December.
Dud of the Night
Zach LaVine is having a fine season for the Timberwolves, but the point guard came out flat Thursday. He finished with four points, hitting one of his eight shots from the field in 25 minutes. He also turned the ball over twice and committed five fouls. He’ll be back.
Looking ahead (all times Eastern)
Mavericks (19-13) at Heat (18-13), 7:30 p.m.; Dirk Nowitzki keeps defying age. At 37, he’s still the Mavericks’ leading scorer, at more than 17 points a game. The Mavs come in riding a four-game winning streak. The Heat have dropped two straight. Dwayne Wade (18.9 points per game) and Chris Bosh (18.5) continue to lead the way for Miami, but the Heat have shown nice balance, with six players averaging double figures.
Knicks (15-18) at Bulls (18-12), 8 p.m.: These teams met Dec. 19 in New York, with the Knicks winning 107-91 behind 27 points from Carmelo Anthony. Things won’t be so easy for the Knicks in the United Center, where they have lost nine straight games dating to November 2010. Bulls guard Derrick Rose, who missed Wednesday’s game vs. the Pacers, is still battling a right hamstring injury. He’s uncertain for this game. The Knicks have dropped four of their last five contests overall.