Bogut scores 22 in return; Bucks top Bulls

MILWAUKEE — Andrew Bogut returned with 22 points, 15 rebounds and two big blocks in the closing minutes to rally the Milwaukee Bucks to a 99-97 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night after squandering a big lead.

Brad Miller missed a shot at the buzzer that would’ve tied it after Derrick Rose, who had 17 of his 19 points in the second half, decided to pass up the final opportunity as Chicago lost its fifth straight.

Bogut was supposed to be out up to four weeks with a lower left leg strain, but the former No. 1 pick only missed six games and proved to be the spark Milwaukee badly needed to snap a four-game losing streak.

Carlos Delfino and rookie Brandon Jennings added 15 points each, but Milwaukee failed to protect a big second-half lead for the second straight game.

John Salmons had 23 points, Luol Deng 22 points and 14 rebounds and Joakim Noah 16 points and 17 rebounds for the Bulls, who rallied after trailing 70-56 midway through the third.

Chicago had an 89-87 lead with just over three minutes to play before Jennings, Bogut and Charlie Bell, who finished with 16 points, all had layups to give the Bucks a 93-89 lead.

Bogut then blocked two shots, swatting Deng on a dunk and turning aside a layup attempt by Rose. Salmons missed a 3 that would’ve tied it with 27 seconds left and a free throw by Delfino gave Milwaukee a 96-92 lead.

Salmons hit a 3, Jennings answered with two free throws and Salmons dunked to cut Milwaukee’s lead to 98-97 before fouling Bell with 7.1 seconds to play.

Bell hit the second of two free throws and Rose decided to pass to Miller, whose shot was well short from 18 feet as time expired.

The Bulls (6-9) had three days off after a blowout loss at Utah, but finished their circus road trip 1-5 and learned they’ll be without Kirk Hinrich for a week or two with a sprained left thumb.

Milwaukee (9-7) led from the start, but after blowing a 15-point second-half lead in a loss to Orlando on Saturday night, squandered a 14-point advantage before Bogut helped the Bucks rally.

NOTES: Besides Hinrich, the Bulls are also missing Jerome James (right Achilles) and Tyrus Thomas (left arm fracture). … Bucks coach Scott Skiles said Jennings has had several tough shooting nights in a row, but said the rookie’s output is more “realistic” now after he made a splash by being the youngest person in NBA history to score at least 50 points when he scored 55 on Nov. 14 in a win over the Warriors. … Chicago is 11-3 against Milwaukee since the start of the 2006-07 season.