NBA Game Summary - Indiana at Milwaukee

Milwaukee, WI (Basketball News) - Joe Smith scored 25 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked four shots to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 95-86 victory over the Indiana Pacers in the front end of a home-and-home at the Bradley Center.

Toni Kukoc contributed 13 points for the Bucks, who snapped a four-game home losing streak. Brian Skinner and Michael Redd each had 12 points in the win.

Jermaine O’Neal scored 20 points to lead the Pacers, who could have clinched home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs with a win. Indiana will try again Wednesday on its home court against the Bucks.

Kenny Anderson had 14 points and Al Harrington added 13 in a losing effort. Indiana has lost three straight and seven of its last eight at Milwaukee.

The Bucks erased a six-point deficit in the second quarter with a 22-6 run. Smith dunked to ignite the burst and cut the Pacers’ lead to 38-34. Kukoc gave Milwaukee a 42-40 lead and later capped the run with a three-pointer that put the Bucks on top, 54-44, with under a minute remaining until halftime.

Milwaukee would not trail again. The Bucks led 54-46 at the half and carried an eight-point lead into the fourth quarter.

Indiana would get as close as four on several occasions, the last coming on a jumper by Anderson with 1:10 remaining that cut the Bucks’ lead to 90-86.

Kukoc made 1-of-2 from the line with 36.1 seconds left to give the Bucks a 91-86 advantage. Indiana’s Ron Artest then missed from three-point range and Brevin Knight made a pair of free throws to seal the win for the Bucks with 27.7 seconds left.