PACERS 105, BUCKS 99: Roy Hibbert led seven players in double figures with 23 points and 14 rebounds as visiting Indiana picked up its four straight win.

The loss dropped Milwaukee 2 ½ games behind Philadelphia and New York for the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference.

Danny Granger added 21 points and George Hill scored 13 for the Pacers, who remain three games ahead of the Boston Celtics for the No. 3 spot in the East.

The Bucks, who have dropped three of four, get three days off before playing at Washington on Wednesday.

Indiana led 59-48 at the half but Milwaukee nearly made up the difference in the third quarter. Carlos Delfino hit two of the Bucks’ four 3-pointers in the frame and Mike Dunleavy’s bomb from beyond the arc closed the gap to 80-78 entering the fourth.

But the Pacers never let Milwaukee grab the lead as Leandro Barbosa hit a pair of 3-pointers early in the fourth to push the edge to eight points and Hill connected from beyond the arc after Milwaukee had cut it to 90-89 with 6:58 left.

The Bucks managed one field goal in the final 3:59 and Indiana sealed it from the free-throw line.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Monta Ellis scored 20 points and Brandon Jennings nearly recorded a triple-double with 16 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for Milwaukee. … The teams will meet again in Indianapolis on Thursday. … Indiana pulled down 54 rebounds to the Bucks’ 43.