MILWAUKEE – Jason Hart wasn’t about to share any of the credit.
Hart made the go-ahead basket – he called it his first game-winning shot since high school – with three seconds left to give the Los Angeles Clippers a 104-103 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
Hart’s shot from the baseline bounced twice on the side of the rim before falling in. Elton Brand’s hand went up for a tip-in, but he did not touch the ball.
“He didn’t tip it,” Hart said. “It was right there. It was clear as day. If he had tipped it, the way they were calling the game, they would have called a no-basket. The high fliers, they know not to tip the ball around because of the chance it is going to be goaltending.”
What was Brand’s take on the play?
“I don’t know. I don’t know,” Brand said, smiling. “We’ll have to look at the videotape. All I know is the ball went in. I didn’t touch it.”
Corey Maggette scored 22 points and Brand had 21 points and eight rebounds for Los Angeles, which moved past the Warriors into the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference.
Milwaukee, which trailed by 22 points late in the third quarter, got 27 points and five rebounds from Michael Redd. It was his fifth consecutive game with at least 25 points.
“We did a great job coming back, but you’ve got to look at the first three quarters,” Redd said.
A jumper by Hart gave Los Angeles its biggest lead, 88-66 with 2:24 left in the third quarter.
But Milwaukee used a 12-0 run to get back in the game. A free throw by Charlie Bell trimmed the deficit to 99-98 with 2:26 left.
After a free throw by Brand, Bell drilled a three-pointer that gave Milwaukee a 101-100 lead, its first since 9-8, with 1:13 remaining. Brian Skinner’s two free throws gave the Bucks a 103-100 lead with 58 seconds left.
The Clippers, who wrapped up their six-game trip with a 3-3 record, got a basket by Maggette to trim the margin to 103-102 with 45 seconds to play. Milwaukee then turned the ball over on a 24-second violation.
