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MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Ersan Ilyasova scored on a putback with 27.2 seconds remaining for the lead and the Milwaukee Bucks knocked off yet another NBA powerhouse, holding on to beat the Utah Jazz 95-87 on Friday.
John Salmons had 24 points and Brandon Jennings added 23 for the Bucks, who have won five straight games and 11 of their last 12 -- including home wins over Eastern Conference powerhouses Cleveland and Orlando in the past week, although the Cavaliers were resting LeBron James.
Carlos Boozer had 26 points and 14 rebounds, but was ejected after being assessed a pair of technical fouls arguing a no-call on what he thought was a foul with 13.4 seconds left. The Jazz played much of the second half without forward Andrei Kirilenko because of an injury to his left calf.
Andrew Bogut added 16 points and 12 rebounds for Milwaukee.
Trailing 78-75, the Bucks went on a 9-2 run to take an 84-80 lead on Jennings' 3-pointer from the left wing with 3:12 remaining. Boozer then scored inside to cut the lead to 2 with 2:28 left.
Salmons then hit one of two free throws, and Mehmet Okur missed a putback chance of a Deron Williams miss, calling in vain for a foul after the play. Bogut then hit a pair of free throws, but a foul sent Boozer to the line. He hit only one of two, and Milwaukee led 87-83 with 1:33 left.
Kyle Korver hit a jumper for the Jazz, and C.J. Miles hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 87 with 36 seconds remaining.
The ball went inside to Bogut, who missed in the lane, but Ilyasova put the ball back up and in to give Milwaukee the lead with 27.2 seconds left.
Okur missed a 3-point attempt, and Salmons was fouled on the rebound. He hit both free throws, giving the Bucks a four-point lead with 19.6 left.
Boozer missed a shot and howled for a foul on the play -- and was immediately ejected from the game with a pair of technical fouls.
Okur had 20 points and 11 rebounds for Utah. It was an off shooting night for Williams, who had 11 points on 3 of 12 shooting.
The Bucks have been playing strong defense during their recent hot stretch, and have now held 14 of their past 21 opponents to under 90 points coming into Friday.
But even after facing Cleveland and Boston, Utah might have been the Bucks' biggest challenge of the week.
Coming into Friday's game, the Jazz had lost only five games since Jan. 9 -- going 23-5 during that stretch.
Already leading 57-51 midway through the third quarter, the Bucks took control with an 11-5 run that included a score and a pair of assists by Carlos Delfino. Milwaukee led 68-56 with just under four minutes left in the quarter.
Shortly after that, a Williams pass intended for Wesley Matthews instead ended up in the courtside seats, wildly spilling a fan's beverage and causing the crowd to chant, "Buy him a beer!"
Meanwhile, Kirilenko, who left the game midway through the quarter but had remained on the bench, went to the locker room still nursing the injury.
Milwaukee took a 71-63 lead into the fourth quarter, but Utah immediately went on a 9-0 run to take the lead.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
