For the first time this season, the Bucks have won three straight games. They have won five straight at home and five of six overall. And, they broke an eight-game losing streak to Utah.

But even so, with the Detroit Pistons due in town Saturday and a tough two-game trip to Texas to follow that, Skiles wasn't going to make any bold statements about how many strides his team has taken in the right direction lately.

"You know how it is, you don't want to go too far (with that)," Skiles said. "You're only as good as your next game and our next game is against another good opponent. But the guys have made progress. We just kind of said to ourselves that maybe even just two or three weeks ago if we shot less than 40%, we would have gotten beat by 15 points. So we're starting to be able to shake off a poor shooting night, which happens. And still get a win."

Said guard Michael Redd: "We're positive. You want to continue to stay humble and keep working hard. We realize that we're gaining ground but we're still under .500."

Redd led the Bucks with 27 points and five other Bucks scored in double figures. Luke Ridnour handed out 11 assists and had six steals, and Andrew Bogut grabbed 11 rebounds. Guard Charlie Bell injured his right knee late in the second quarter when he hit the floor going for a loose ball. He did not return.

This was the final game of a five-game trip for Utah, which was led by reserve forward Andrei Kirilenko's 22 points and 11 rebounds. Guard Deron Williams had 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Utah's biggest lead was two and its last lead was at 12-10.

The Bucks, who led by 12 at halftime and 19 early in the third quarter, took a five-point lead into the fourth. Two free throws and a fast-break layup by guard Ramon Sessions opened the fourth. A jumper by Sessions pushed the lead to 77-67 with 9 minutes 24 seconds left but Utah then ran off 10 straight - including a three-pointer each from Kyle Korver and Williams - to tie the score with 7:08 left.

Four free throws by Redd and two more by Richard Jefferson put the Bucks ahead by six but Utah was still within three at 88-85 after two free throws by Kirilenko with 1:27 left. But a jumper by Redd and a free throw by Luc Richard Mbah a Moute put Milwaukee ahead, 91-85, with 30 seconds left.

"I felt like we played well again, especially on the defensive end," Skiles said. "The ball movement was good again. We had several opportunities to take the lead up but just couldn't make that big shot. But the ball movement was good, we were very active defensively, held them under 40%, so it's been a good week."

The Bucks led, 63-44, with 7:15 left in the third quarter but Utah trimmed the lead to 69-64 going into the fourth.

"It was just a little bit discouraging," Skiles said. "Several possessions, even in the first half, you kind of take a lead up to a significant number and the ball moves around the perimeter and we're wide open but we just couldn't make a shot. . . . We had trouble making that key shot. And because they were so injured, Jerry (Sloan, Utah coach) was putting different lineups out there and causing us some matchup problems.

"But we weathered all of that. And on a night when Richard (3 for 14) and Michael (9 for 25) had a shooting night like they had and still get a win, that's big for us."

Copyright 2008, Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved. (Note: This notice does not apply to those news items already copyrighted and received through wire services or other media.)