Damian Lillard led the Milwaukee team with 36 points, including making 4 of 12 3-point shots. The Bucks (47-30) remain in second place in the Eastern Conference.
~Reverse's dissatisfaction~
The loss was another blow to Bucks coach Doc Rivers as his team gears up for a playoff push.
“I'm frustrated, everyone's frustrated, and I think that's a good thing,” Rivers said. “But we can't do anything with frustration. We have to get through this ourselves.
“We have to think about what we have to do to play at a higher pace.”
The Bucks' next opponent was the New York Knicks, who lost 108-100 to the Chicago Bulls in the Windy City on Friday despite Jalen Brunson scoring 35 points.
Elsewhere, the Golden State Warriors were still waiting to earn at least a play-in spot after Klay Thompson's last-gasp buzzer-beater failed in a 108-106 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. .
PJ Washington scored 32 points and Kyrie Irving added 26 points for the Mavericks, who were without Luka Doncic.
In Friday's other games, the Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a 126-112 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, ending their hopes of moving atop the Western Conference and ending their third straight loss.
Oklahoma City effectively double-teamed Tyrese Haliburton, leaving it up to Pascal Siakam to lead the Pacers with 21 points.
Haliburton finished with a modest 8 points and 11 assists.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle dismissed Haliburton's low point total.
“Tyrese Haliburton is defined by wins, not scores,” Carlisle said. “He was patient and disciplined tonight.”
Meanwhile, the undermanned Thunder have fallen to 52 wins and 25 losses, and are currently in third place in the West Division behind Minnesota and Denver.
In New Orleans, the already eliminated San Antonio Spurs fought back from a 15-point deficit in the second quarter to defeat the Pelicans 111-109.
CJ McCollum led the Pels in scoring with a game-high 31 points, but San Antonio's balanced offensive performance, with seven players scoring in double figures, held New Orleans to a point.
French rookie Victor Wenbanyama finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists, just missing out on a triple-double.
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