Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - John Salmons had 20 points and provided a spark yet again for the Milwaukee Bucks, who held on for a 112-110 win over the Indiana Pacers to win their season-best fifth straight game.
Salmons Once Again Sparks Bucks to Victory
Brandon Jennings added 18 points -- nine in the fourth quarter -- and seven assists for Milwaukee, which is 5-0 since acquiring Salmons from Chicago. Andrew Bogut chipped in with 15 points and 10 boards, while Ersan Ilyasova had 17 points in the Bucks' fifth straight road win.
Luke Ridnour had 12 points and eight assists in the win for Milwaukee, which has won all three games against the Pacers this season. This is the first five-game win streak for the Bucks since November 14-24, 2007.
Danny Granger tallied a game-high 21 points for Indiana, which has lost three straight and seven of eight. T.J. Ford had 17 points, while Troy Murphy provided 16 points on 4-of-7 shooting from three-point range.
Earl Watson added 15 points, eight boards and five assists in a losing cause.
Luther Head pulled Indiana to within seven with a pair of baskets to open up the fourth quarter, but Salmons drilled a couple free throws shortly thereafter to push Milwaukee's edge back to 11, 93-82, with 9:20 to play.
An Ilyasova jumper had the visitors ahead by a 103-89 margin with 5 1/2 minutes remaining, but Indiana tallied the next eight points to make it a six-point game on a Murphy three.
Another Murphy make from long distance had the Pacers down, 106-103, with 2:14 to play, and the hosts then made it a two-point game, 108-106, on Watson’s tip shot with 31.5 ticks on the clock.
After a pair of Salmons free throws kept Milwaukee ahead by two possessions, Granger was fouled from three-point range with 10 seconds left and made only 2-of-3 from the line.
Jennings was put on the free throw line and drilled both attempts to restore the four-point cushion for the Bucks; Granger missed a three at the other end, but Ford grabbed the rebound and was fouled on a three-point attempt with 1.5 seconds left.
He made the first two shots and intentionally missed the third, but Ridnour corralled the rebound and ran out the remaining time.
Murphy drilled a pair of three-pointers and had eight points in the first quarter, and Indiana held a slim 31-30 lead heading to the second.
The Pacers increased their lead to 44-38 on a Granger layup 3 1/2 minutes into the second quarter, but the Bucks later ripped off eight straight points to grab a 53-51 advantage on an Ilyasova jumper with 2:10 remaining.
Milwaukee’s lead grew to 61-56 at halftime.
The Bucks created some breathing room in the third, as Bogut capped a string of six consecutive Milwaukee points with a layup for a 69-57 advantage. Milwaukee led by as many as 16 in the quarter before going into the fourth with an 89-77 cushion.
Milwaukee clinched its first season-series victory over Indiana since the 2003-04 season...The Bucks are still just 11-19 on the road overall, while Indiana fell to 12-16 at home...Head had 10 points, while Roy Hibbert had 12 for the Pacers...Jerry Stackhouse scored 11 for Milwaukee, which also got 10 points from Carlos Delfino.
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