MILWAUKEE — Khris Middleton scored 30 points and hit a key 3-pointer from the corner with 40.8 seconds left, and the Milwaukee Bucks snapped a four-game losing streak with a 91-85 victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.
Middleton had missed a 3-pointer, but the offensive rebound was tracked down by center Zaza Pachulia, who flipped a pass back to Middleton for a successful follow.
Paul Pierce, who led the Wizards with 14 points, missed a 3-pointer on Washington’s next possession and Jared Bayless hit two foul shots with 22.2 seconds left to give the Bucks a five-point lead. Pierce also made only one of two free throws with 17.6 seconds left.
Washington was trying to win consecutive games for the first time since beating Brooklyn on Feb. 7 and Orlando on Feb. 9.
Wizards coach Randy Wittman said he held out Bradley Beal as a precaution after the shooting guard played 33 minutes in Friday night’s win over Miami. Beal had played three games in six days since returning from a lower right leg injury that forced him to miss eight games.
Milwaukee led by as much as 60-43 with 8:50 left in the third quarter and nearly gave the game away.
Washington finished the quarter with a 20-5 run to cut Milwaukee’s lead to 65-63. Garrett Temple scored eight of his 11 points in the third.
It was neck-and-neck the rest of the way between two teams vying for playoff positioning in the middle of the Eastern Conference.
Middleton was a difference-maker after making 11 of 20 shots, including six of nine from 3-point range. He also grabbed nine rebounds.
Bayless added 13 points for the Bucks off the bench.
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