Star Milwaukee Buck Michael Redd led his team to a hard-fought victory over Portland, handing the Trail Blazers their fourth straight loss in the process.

Redd was outstanding, knocking down 33 points – 27 in the first half - and was ably backed up by substitute Charlie Bell who added 14 and eight assists for Milwaukee (33-33).

A jumper by Redd with 8:27 to play gave the Bucks the lead for good 85-83.

Australian Andrew Bogut had eight points in just 15 minutes playing time for the Bucks.

In Chicago, the Bulls went down at home to the Miami Heat by one point after Luol Deng's potential game-winner missed on the buzzer.

Heat All-Star guard Dwyane Wade failed to become the first player in the club's history to produce 13 consecutive 20-point games, shooting poorly (1-of-8 field goals) and coughing the ball up 10 times on his way to 15 points.

In other games from the NBA on Saturday (US), the San Antonio Spurs beat cross-town rivals the Houston Rockets 92-77 on the back of Tony Parker's 23 points, while the Denver Nuggets thrashed the New Orleans / Oklahoma City Hornets 109-94.

The Detroit Pistons (52-13) were too good for the struggling Charlotte Bobcats, winning 108-103.

NBA results, March 18 (US)
Bucks 97 Blazers 93
Heat 85 Bulls 84
Pistons 108 Bobcats 103
Nuggets 109 Hornet 94
Spurs 92 Rockets 77