McInnis took a pass at the top of the circle from Lamar Odom, who drew the defense with a drive. The 6-4 McInnis launched his winning shot over the outstretched hand of 6-10 Tim Thomas, whose 3-pointer had tied the game 13 seconds earlier.
The Bucks had one last chance, but Michael Redd's 3-pointer barely grazed the rim and time expired.
"We ran a pick-and-roll trying to get a smaller guy on Lamar, and the play broke down and they hit me at the top of the key," McInnis said. "I took the shot and was happy it went in."
 Corey Maggette rises above the rest. |
Thomas scored on a three-point play with 1:39 left to give the Bucks an 80-78 lead. Odom hit 1-of-2 free throws and after Anthony Mason was called for an offensive foul, Odom made a finger roll to give Los Angeles an 81-80 lead.
Ray Allen missed a reverse dunk and Corey Maggette converted a leaning layup with 23 seconds remaining to make it 83-80.
Odom scored 18 points and had six assists and five rebounds. Michael Olowokandi had 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers, who improved to 16-7 at home but play 23 of their next 31 games on the road. They begin a six-game road trip at Philadelphia on Tuesday.
"I came out and tried to help the team the best I could," Odom said. "They got me the ball tonight and I was able to knock down a few shots. (I'm) glad we got the win."
"I thought Michael did a real good job of taking the ball on the inside," Gentry said. "Not only did he give us some baskets, he came up with big rebounds when we needed them."
Milwaukee scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to take its first lead at 65-64 on the second of consecutive 3-pointers by Allen. After Sam Cassell hit a jumper, Quentin Richardson dunked to give the Clippers their first points 3:32 into the period.
Allen, who had been out since December 22 with tendinitis in his left knee, scored 24 points for Milwaukee. Cassell added 20 points for the Bucks, who again played without the injured Glenn Robinson.
"We are one of the better teams in the NBA," Allen said. "We just have to go out there and get on a roll. We have to try to play hard with what we have out there."
Cassell was 0-of-6 in the first half and left with just under five minutes to go in the second quarter with a pinched nerve. But he started the third quarter and converted 7-of-7 shots, scoring 16 points as Milwaukee reduced a 13-point deficit to 64-57 entering the fourth quarter.
"I didn't have any strength or movement in my arm," Cassell said. "I don't know what the trainer did, but it got me where I needed to be, and after I hit the first shot, then I was on a roll."
The Clippers jumped out to a 28-12 lead after one period behind 57 percent shooting (13-of-23).
"We didn't make shots starting the game off," Allen said. "They scored 28 in the first quarter and we couldn't buy a basket. They got a lot of momentum and we couldn't stop it, and that is what led to the bad start."
But the Clippers shot just 24 percent (4-of-17) in the second quarter and the Bucks closed to 42-34 at halftime.
Los Angeles outscored Milwaukee in the paint, 40-28, and although the Clippers only made 12-of-21 free throws, the Bucks were just 5-of-6 from the line.
"We had plenty of opportunities to win the game," Bucks coach George Karl said. "You have to tip your hat to them. We are not winning games on the road against good teams."
"We needed that win, and we got it," Odom said. "Now it's time to focus again and get ready for the 10-day road trip."