 Cleveland Cavaliers' Antawn Jamison, right, shoots over Milwaukee Bucks' Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (12), from Cameroon, in overtime of an NBA basketball game on Friday, Feb. 10, 2012, in Cleveland. Jamison scored 34 points in the 113-112 loss to the Bucks. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
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Jennings' 24 lifts Bucks past Cavs 113-112 in OT
CLEVELAND - Scott Skiles knew the Bucks needed a spark.
When none of his players stepped up, Milwaukee's coach ignited things himself.
Skiles got himself ejected on purpose, picking up two quick technical fouls in the third quarter, and the Bucks rallied for a 113-112 win in overtime Friday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who played without rookie Kyrie Irving and lost centre Anderson Varejao to a sprained wrist.
"I felt like it might get us going a little bit," Skiles said of his strategy to get thrown out. "Sometimes you do that and it works. Sometimes you do it and it doesn't. I'm not saying it did tonight. I'm just happy the guys hung in there and we got it done."
Brandon Jennings had 24 points, including a big layup in overtime, and eight assists for the Bucks, who trailed by 10 late in the third period - right after Skiles was tossed.
Drew Gooden scored 19 points and made two free throws with 4.4 seconds left in OT for Milwaukee, which is 5-2 in its past seven road games after an 0-8 start.
Antawn Jamison had a season-high 34 points and 11 rebounds, but the Cleveland forward missed two free throws - after a foul underneath on Gooden - with 3.7 seconds to go in regulation and the game tied.
"That's tough," Cavs coach Byron Scott said of Jamison's late miscues. "But if 'Twan doesn't play the way he played, we don't even have a chance."
Jamison scored seven straight points and nine overall as the Cavaliers closed the third quarter with a 12-4 run to take an 85-77 lead into the fourth.
During Cleveland's run, Skiles got run.
He had been waiting for the right moment to motivate his team, and when the officials didn't call a foul when Gooden was hit on a drive, Skiles went to work.
The volatile coach stormed onto the floor, complaining to referee John Goble and punching the air with his fist before he was ejected with 2:46 left in the period and the Bucks down seven.
"Usually when Scott gets a tech, he might get another one," Jennings said. "Sometimes that fires a team up, it gets guys really wanting to win."
Ramon Sessions added 16 assists in his second start in place of Irving, who missed his second straight game with a concussion.
The Cavaliers went just 4 of 14 from the field and 2 of 6 from the line in the final 8:04.
Continued...