MIAMI -- Dwyane Wade, the Miami Heat's 11-time All-Star guard, spent much of the summer working with Milwaukee Bucks small forward Khris Middleton.

Wade, 10 years older than Middleton, passed along some tips to the young Buck.

Maybe he shouldn't have.

That's probably how old-school Heat president Pat Riley feels after watching Middleton score 22 points -- 20 more than Wade -- in Milwaukee's 91-79 victory over Miami on Tuesday at AmericanAirlines Arena.

"Khris is able to impact the game in several ways," Bucks interim coach Joe Prunty said. "He is able to score and create shots for others, making passes out of the double team."

Middleton's presence helped center Greg Monroe, who had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (14 points).

The Bucks have won five straight against the Heat, sweeping all four games last season. There's no doubt the Bucks' length -- they start a 6-6 point guard, two 6-8 wings and two 6-11 players -- gives Miami trouble.

In addition, Miami was without its top two point guards because of injuries -- Goran Dragic and Beno Udrih. That forced Wade to play more point guard along with emergency starter Tyler Johnson.

"I don't like it," Wade said of playing the point. "Tyler is doing the best he can, but he is not a typical point guard.

"At the right times, I'm cool with playing the one (point) as long as we run the offense and the ball finds me back somewhere. ... But it's frustrating when the ball doesn't move back around."

Middleton praised the Bucks' defense, which held Miami to 36.5 percent shooting from the floor.

"We challenged every shot," Middleton said. "We tried to make it difficult on them. Once we did that, we were dangerous on the other end."

Milwaukee (19-25) is 6-4 in January after winning its third straight game, following losing months in November (7-9) and December (6-10).

Miami (23-19), led by forward Chris Bosh's 23 points, lost its second straight game. Miami center Hassan Whiteside added 23 points and a game-high 18 rebounds, but the Heat is 6-8 at home against Eastern Conference teams this season.

Wade, playing with two sore shoulders, scored two points one 1-of-6 shooting. Johnson scored three points on 0-of-6 shooting. The two combined for eight turnovers and minus-33.

"We don't want to make excuses," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of the injuries. "That's not even in our mindset."

Another Heat injured player was guard Gerald Green, who played despite right knee tendinitis. Green was held to six points on 2-of-10 shooting.

This was Miami's first home game after a 2-4 road trip. After Tuesday, the Heat leaves again, this time for a five-game trip, and doesn't play in the same city in consecutive games during a month-plus span.

Perhaps that strain was felt in the first half as Miami trailed early. Milwaukee led 19-18 after the first quarter and 49-39 at halftime.

Things got even better for Milwaukee in the third quarter as the Bucks went on an 18-2 run. Milwaukee led 75-57 after three quarters.

Miami failed to challenge in the fourth quarter, falling to 8-10 in its past 18 games.

"We saw the same thing you saw -- a pretty flat performance," Spoelstra said.

Bosh said the Heat took too many quick shots.

"We didn't work their defense," Bosh said. "It's disappointing not living up to our standards.

"With young guys at the guard position, they have to learn. We have to toughen up. It's not going to come from an outside source."

NOTES: Heat C Hassan Whiteside has five straight double-doubles in points and rebounds. ... Heat G Tyler Johnson made his third start of the season. ... Miami was without PG Goran Dragic (left calf), C Chris Andersen (left knee), PG Beno Udrih (neck) and F Josh McRoberts (right knee). ... Bucks G O.J. Mayo (sore left hamstring) missed his third straight game. He sat out with the injury Jan. 10, played two games and is hurt again. ... Bucks G Greivis Vasquez (ankle) hasn't played since Nov. 27. ... There is no timetable for the return of Bucks coach Jason Kidd, who has been out since hip surgery on Dec. 21 as assistant Joe Prunty continues to run the bench. ... Milwaukee leads the NBA in points in the paint.