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Bucks pull out OT win over Sixers, stay alive in East

Apr 3, 2011 - 5:27 AM Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Brandon Jennings was held without a field goal in regulation, but sank three big shots in overtime, as the Bucks edged the playoff-bound Philadelphia 76ers, 93-87, at the Bradley Center.

John Salmons scored 19 to go with eight assists for the Bucks, who have a slim chance at making the postseason. They are 3 1/2 games behind Eastern Conference No. 8 seed Indiana. Milwaukee has just six games remaining and has Charlotte between itself and the Pacers.

Jennings missed all six of his regulation field goal attempts, but made all three in OT. He finished with 13 points. Luc Mbah a Moute and Drew Gooden each scored 12 for Milwaukee, which bounced back from a one-point loss at Indiana on Friday.

Elton Brand had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Sixers, who secured a playoff spot with a home triumph over New Jersey on Friday. Their three-game winning streak was snapped. The Sixers currently hold the No. 6 seed in the conference, two games ahead of New York.

Philadelphia guard Lou Williams left in the final minute of the third quarter with a right hamstring strain.

The Bucks wasted a seven-point lead halfway through the fourth quarter as Brand's jumper tied it at 79 with 1:42 remaining in regulation. Both teams failed on opportunities to win before OT. Salmons and Keyon Dooling had turnovers for the Bucks, while Brand and Jrue Holiday each missed shots for Philadelphia.

Jennings' three-point shot at the buzzer was off the mark, but his long- distance jumper provided the Bucks an 84-81 lead in the extra session.

Holiday, who had 15 points and 10 assists, canned a jumper with 14.9 seconds left to get the Sixers within two, but Salmons made two from the charity stripe to seal the outcome.

"We couldn't get that one bucket to put us over the hump, to tie the game," Brand said. "We just couldn't knock them down."

Philadelphia led by 10 after one quarter and carried a 48-39 advantage into the half. The Bucks finally edged back in front, 55-54, on a pair of Jennings free throws with 3:12 left in the third. It was tied at 61 going to the fourth.

"Both teams early on looked a little fatigued," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. "We weren't as sharp as we would have liked to have been, but we hung in there and had a very good defense the last 2 1/2 quarters."

Game Notes

The Bucks won two straight against the Sixers for first time since winning three in a row, from November 1, 2005 to December 7, 2005...The Sixers had won their previous three games...Philadelphia has one road game remaining (at Boston on Tuesday) before closing out the season with four home games...Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Bucks...Gooden also had 12 boards.