Bucks 111, Kings 103

MILWAUKEE — O.J. Mayo had 21 points, Brandon Knight scored 20 and the Milwaukee Bucks doubled their victory total from last season, earning their 30th of the season with a 111-103 decision over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night at the Bradley Center.

Knight started the game 2-for-6 from the field but knocked down five of his next six and sank 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to close out the third, giving the Bucks an 18-point edge.

Mayo only made five of 13 shots, but hit a pair of 3-pointers and made all five free-throw attempts.

Bucks shooting guard Khris Middleton scored 11 points in the first quarter and Milwaukee shot 48.9 percent for the half to take a 60-51 lead.

Center John Henson hit five of six shots and blocked four shots in the first half but picked up two quick fouls midway through the third quarter, giving him four for the game, then drew a technical from referee Dan Crawford.

Up by as many as 21 at one point, the Bucks had to hold off two hard Sacramento rallies over the final few minutes. The Kings used an 11-3 run to make it a nine-point game with 2:05 to play when point guard Ramon Sessions found Ben McLemore for an open 3-pointer but Knight’s third 3-pointer of the game put Milwaukee back up 11 with 50 seconds left.

The Kings weren’t done, cutting the lead to six with 20 seconds left on another 3-pointer by McLemore, who finished with 16.

Center DeMarcus Cousins scored 28 to lead the Kings, who shot 42 percent and gave up 21 points on 18 turnovers.

Sacramento (18-34) has lost seven of nine.

NOTES: Milwaukee C Larry Sanders was reinstated by the NBA on Wednesday. He had been suspended since Jan. 16 for failing a drug test. Sanders has been away since Dec. 23 and has yet to rejoin the team due to personal reasons. … Bucks G Jeryd Bayless played just five minutes of the first half and did not return after suffering a right hip flexor strain. … Sacramento was without coach G Darren Collison, who missed his fourth consecutive game because of a right hip flexor strain, but coach Tyrone Corbin said he wasn’t sure that F Derrick Williams would be able to play Wednesday night. Williams has missed three of the Kings’ last four games because of a sprained right ankle. … With rumors swirling that the Kings had reached an agreement to hire George Karl as head coach, Corbin said he was focused on Wednesday’s game. “I’ve been around this league a long time and I’ve seen a lot of crazy things happen,” Corbin said. “It’s not an easy situation to be in, but I have to move forward and make sure I’m an example to my players on this young team.” Corbin has gone 7-20 since taking over for Mike Malone on Dec. 15.