Khris Middleton hit a 3-pointer with 40.7 seconds left in overtime, rookie Thon Maker scored a career-high 23 points and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Detroit Pistons 108-105 on Friday night.
Middleton hit the 3 from the right wing after Maker tipped an offensive rebound right back to his teammate to save a crucial possession that started with a Middleton miss from nearly the same spot behind the arc.
It was a thrilling end to the month for the Bucks, who moved into fifth place in the Eastern Conference after going 14-4 in March.
Tobias Harris scored 23 points to lead the Pistons in a game of wild of swings. Detroit trailed by 18 in the first quarter, then led by 10 in the fourth quarter before the Bucks finished with a flourish.
All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks' charge from a 91-81 deficit, scoring 10 points in the final 5 minutes of regulation. Maker's putback with 51 seconds left completed the rally, tying the score at 95.
The Bucks heeded the cries of "Defense!" from their fans in overtime at the Bradley Center. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a 3 with 1:22 left to tie the game at 102, but Detroit didn't hit another field goal until Ish Smith's 3 with 0.1 seconds left.
Milwaukee looked at first like it would cruise to a win, hitting 7 of its first 9 attempts from 3-point range to build leads of 22-4 and 35-22 in the first quarter, before the Pistons started chipping away.
TIP INS
Pistons: Caldwell-Pope was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving after police say he was spotted speeding in suburban Detroit early Wednesday morning. He was arrested after a field sobriety test and taken to the police station, where a breathalyzer test showed a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent. Caldwell-Pope was cited for operating while intoxicated and released. Caldwell-Pope declined to speak with reporters before game in Milwaukee and finished with 17 points. He played in Detroit's home win on Thursday over Brooklyn. "He's a guy we really believe in not only as a player, but as a high-character guy," coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We're aware of the situation and we'll let things run its course."
Bucks: Rookie G Malcolm Brogdon missed the game with a sore back. ... F Michael Beasley (left knee) returned after missing 17 games with a hyperextended left knee, scoring seven points in eight minutes.
UP NEXT
Pistons: Host the Toronto Raptors on April 5, when Detroit will try to even the season series at two games apiece.
Bucks: Host the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Coach Jason Kidd and guard Jason Terry played together in Dallas when the Mavericks won the NBA title in 2011.