Cold-shooting Bucks rely on defence to shut down Heat

Jan 23, 2012, 6:00 GMT

Los Angeles - Brandon Jennings scored 23 points, including the game-sealing lay-in with 39 seconds remaining, and the visiting Milwaukee Bucks relied on their stingy defence to beat the Miami Heat 91-82 on Sunday night.

Ersan Ilyasova netted 16 points off the bench for the Bucks, who earned consecutive road wins after opening 0-8 away from home despite just shooting just 35 per cent from the field.

But they held the Heat to its lowest point total of the season, nearly 25 below its NBA-leading average, on an equally miserable 37 per cent field goal shooting while forcing 22 turnovers, resulting in 22 points.

LeBron James had 28 points with 13 rebounds while Chris Bosh scored 23 for Miami, which had won three straight since losing All-Star guard Dwyane Wade to a right ankle sprain.

Roy Hibbert scored eight of his 18 points in the fourth quarter despite suffering a broken nose early in the game, to pace six teammates in double figures, and the visiting Indiana Pacers won their third in a row after edging the LA Lakers 98-96.

Kobe Bryant scored 33 but missed the potential-game tying three-pointer in the closing seconds as the Lakers suffered their third straight defeat.

Mo Williams erupted for 19 of his 26 points in the final quarter, DeAndre Jordan had 16 points with 16 rebounds, and the host LA Clippers sent the sliding Toronto Raptors to their eighth straight loss, 103-91.

Paul Pierce had season-highs of 34 points with 10 assists and eight rebounds as the visiting Boston Celtics beat the Washington Wizards, 100-94.

John Wall paced the league-worst Wizards (2-14) with 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

Rookie Marshon Brooks scored 20 points, while Deron Williams had 19 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists, as the New Jersey Nets (5-12) trimmed the visiting Charlotte Bobcats (3-14) 97-87, in a battle of two of the league's bottom-feeders.