Pelicans 102, Bucks 98: Eric Gordon broke out of a shooting slump with 21 points on 7-of-13 from the field and Brian Roberts chipped in 17 points as visiting New Orleans held off struggling Milwaukee.

Alexis Ajinca missed a career high by one point, finishing with 16 points and nine rebounds for New Orleans, which has won 13 of the last 15 meetings. Tyreke Evans scored 12 points off the bench and Anthony Davis added 12 in only 20 minutes because of early foul trouble.

Brandon Knight scored 22 points — the fifth time in the last six games he has topped 20 points — for the Bucks, who were without center Larry Sanders (fractured orbital), forwards John Henson (foot), Caron Butler (ankle) and Ekpe Udoh (ankle) and guards O.J. Mayo (illness) and Luke Ridnour (back). Gary Neal scored 18 points off the bench and Ersan Ilyasova returned after missing two games with a back injury to contribute 16 points and nine rebounds.

Milwaukee's lead was as large as seven several times early in the second half, but Ajinca took control with 10 points in under four minutes as New Orleans went up 69-64. Nate Wolters capped an 8-0 burst to pull the Bucks even at 84 with 9:27 left in the game, and he hit a 3-pointer to pull Milwaukee within 96-95 with 2:08 left, but the Bucks were unable to convert on two opportunities to tie or take the lead in the final 15 seconds.

Anthony Morrow hit a 3-pointer at the end of the first quarter that would have given New Orleans a nine-point cushion, but it was reviewed and ruled to have come after the buzzer and Khris Middleton scored two quick buckets to open the second quarter and cut it to 25-23. It was the Bucks who had a bucket waved off at the end of the second quarter, as Knight's driving layup came too late and Milwaukee took a 49-46 lead into the break.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Milwaukee dropped to 1-19 against Western Conference opponents while New Orleans is 14-7 against the East. … Bucks PG Nate Wolters finished with 14 points, seven assists and six rebounds. … The Pelicans held a 60-44 edge in points in the paint.