NBA: Milwaukee Bucks inflict back-to-back defeats on the Miami Heat
Miami Heat suffered back-to-back defeats as the Milwaukee Bucks posted an emphatic 104-85 NBA victory.
Last Updated: 30/12/12 8:04am
Dwyane Wade returned from a one-game suspension on Saturday but failed to get the Miami Heat back to winning ways as the Milwaukee Bucks posted an emphatic 104-85 NBA victory.
Brandon Jennings poured in 25 points for the Bucks to condemn the Heat, who had entered Friday's clash with Detroit riding a six-game winning streak, to a second straight loss.
LeBron James had a game-high 26 points for Miami but it was not enough as Milwaukee outscored their visitors 35-14 in the fourth and final quarter.
Elsewhere, the Oklahoma City Thunder cruised to a 124-94 win over the Houston Rockets, Russell Westbrook scoring 28 points and Kevin Durant 26 for the victors.
Marco Belinelli registered 17 points off the bench to help the Chicago Bulls snap a two-game losing streak with an 87-77 triumph over the Washington Wizards.
Rudy Gay's game-high 19 points helped the Memphis Grizzlies also end a two-game losing run with an 81-72 win against the Denver Nuggets.
Charlotte remained without a win since November 24, despite holding a 21-point first-half advantage, as New Orleans rallied for a 98-95 triumph to extend the Bobcats' losing streak to 18 games. Eric Gordon had 24 points for the Hornets.
Atlanta made it four consecutive wins with a 109-100 victory against the Indiana Pacers, Lou Williams leading the Hawks with 21 points.
The Phoenix Suns slumped to a fifth straight loss despite Luis Scola's 33-point haul, and having led 102-99 with 3:30 left. Nikola Pekovic had 28 points and Kevin Love 23 as the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied for a 111-107 success.
Brook Lopez scored a season-high 35 points as the Brooklyn Nets saw off the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-100, while 22 points from Nicolas Batum lifted the Portland Trail Blazers to an 89-85 triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers.
There were also wins for the Golden State Warriors - 101-83 against the Boston Celtics - and the Toronto Raptors, who thrashed an under-strength Orlando Magic 123-88.