George Karl looked deep into his bench to see if those players would look deep into their hearts.
The strategy worked as Milwaukee's coach went with his most-inspired players Monday night, and they lifted Milwaukee past the Chicago Bulls 81-76. It was the Bucks' third win in as many tries vs. the diluted Bulls."At halftime, I just decided I was going to go with more than a shooting team or a big team. I was just going to go with my best-attitude team," Karl said.
Michael Curry apparently had the best attitude. Curry's 15-foot jumper put Milwaukee ahead for the first time -- and for good -- at 75-74 with 3:07 left. He finished with 10 points.
Ray Allen finished with 17 points, including eight after a confrontation with Toni Kukoc in which Allen shoved Kukoc after being elbowed in the windpipe.
Chicago led by as many as 15 in the second quarter and took a 47-37 halftime lead.
"Boy, it was ugly," Karl said. "I thought we came out flat. I thought Chicago did a great job preparing for some of our offensive stuff and controlled us. We didn't have a defensive attitude."
HEAT 91, 76ERS 89: Dan Majerle put in Tim Hardaway's miss with 1.1 seconds remaining. Terry Porter paced foul-plagued Miami with 20 points, while Allen Iverson, the NBA's leading scorer, led Philadelphia with 28.
The Heat have won 12 of their last 14 games and seven in a row at home. They have beaten the 76ers nine straight times.
Mourning injured his right ankle 36 seconds into the second half when he picked up his fourth foul while Theo Ratliff scored from close range. Mourning's ankle was retaped, and he returned in the fourth period.
TRAIL BLAZERS 92, GRIZZLIES 73: Jimmy Jackson scored a season-high 21 points as nagging injuries didn't prevent Portland from its seventh straight win.
Damon Stoudamire sealed the victory at Vancouver with all of his 10 points in the third quarter. Brian Grant finished with 14 points and nine rebounds as the Trail Blazers improved to 14-3.
Stoudamire (bruised left heel) and center Arvydas Sabonis (slightly sprained right knee) played despite being banged up.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 19 points for the Grizzlies, who lost their eighth straight.
PISTONS 75, WIZARDS 71: Grant Hill had 19 points, eight assists and eight rebounds to lead surging Detroit, which has won seven of eight.
Loy Vaught added a season-high 18 points and eight rebounds for the host Pistons.
Mitch Richmond led Washington with 22 points, and Otis Thorpe had nine points and 17 rebounds.
HAWKS 114, MAGIC 110: Mookie Blaylock's steal of an inbounds pass with :05.4 left helped Atlanta snap Orlando's 10-game home-win streak.
Steve Smith led the Hawks with 24 points, and Dikembe Mutombo had 18 points and 17 rebounds. Alan Henderson had 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Nick Anderson had 34 points on 11-of-17 shooting as six Magic players scored in double figures.