Pacers 104, Bucks 102: Chris Copeland hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer as visiting Indiana prevailed despite resting its entire starting lineup.

After Khris Middleton hit three free throws to even the game with 4.9 seconds remaining, Copeland got the ball out of the timeout before driving to the hoop and hitting a runner at the buzzer to lead the Pacers to the improbable victory. Luis Scola had a season-high 24 points while Evan Turner added 23 and Copeland finished with 18 as Indiana moved a half-game ahead of the Miami Heat atop the Eastern Conference.

Brandon Knight's 25 points and 10 assists paced the Bucks, who have dropped six in a row and need one more loss to clinch at least a share of the NBA's worst record. Ramon Sessions added 20 points while Jeff Adrien had 13 points and 17 rebounds.

The Pacers' patchwork starting lineup held its own in the opening quarter, getting 12 points from Scola - including a jumper with 30 seconds remaining - as the teams entered the second tied 25-25. The teams traded leads until Copeland and Turner hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to stretch the Pacers' lead to seven, and Indiana fended off a late Milwaukee rally to go into the half ahead 53-50.

Rasual Butler went to work early in the third after a quiet first half, connecting on two 3-pointers in a 1:11 span as the Pacers went up by as many as nine before fading late as the Bucks closed to within 72-67 entering the fourth. Milwaukee finally went back ahead on Adrien's short jumper with 4:16 remaining, and the teams went back-and-forth until Ian Mahinmi bit on a Middleton pump fake and fouled him from beyond the 3-point line, allowing the Bucks to tie.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Pacers head coach Frank Vogel opted to rest PG George Hill, SG Lance Stephenson, SF Paul George, PF David West and C Roy Hibbert after the team went into a tailspin that dropped it out of first place in the conference and led to fighting in the locker room. Vogel said all five players would return to practice Thursday and would be in uniform for Friday's game against Miami. ... Turner added nine assists and seven rebounds in his first start since joining the Pacers in a deadline trade with Philadelphia. ... Milwaukee finished with a 48-41 rebounding advantage.