MILWAUKEE _ This one was headed for a happy ending for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Then a last minute-meltdown turned a three-point lead into a 114-109 loss to the streaking Philadelphia 76ers.
Two turnovers and a strange foul that went against Jabari Parker proved costly for the Bucks (21-24).
Playing without Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor, the 76ers won on the second night of a back-to-back set and improved to 9-3 in January. Gerald Henderson led the way with 20 points and former Bucks player Ersan Ilyasova had 17 for Philadelphia (17-27).
Greg Monroe paced the Bucks with 28 points and nine rebounds and Parker had 20 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 17 points and 12 rebounds but was just 7-of-19 from the field and 0-of-7 on 3-point attempts.
The Bucks held a 49-39 lead but were outscored, 33-9, in the rest of the second quarter and trailed at halftime, 72-58.
Ilyasova had 15 points and Dario Saric 13 for the 76ers in the half.
Milwaukee tried to cut into the deficit in the third quarter but could not make a big dent. A 3-pointer by Henderson gave the 76ers an 87-77 lead, but Brogdon scored on a drive.
Malcolm Brogdon then found Monroe under the basket and it resulted in a three-point play with 14.7 seconds left in the quarter.
The Bucks trailed, 88-82, entering the fourth quarter.
A 3-pointer by Brogdon tied the score at 94-94 and a few minutes later Dellavedova drilled a 3 to give the Bucks a 97-96 lead.
A three-point play by Antetokounmpo gave the Bucks a 102-100 lead with 3:39 left, but Noel scored off a lob and Henderson hit a 15-foot baseline shot to put the 76ers ahead, 104-102, with 2:56 remaining.
Monroe scored off a Dellavedova assist for a 109-106 lead.
But Parker fouled Robert Covington after making a steal, a bizarre play that resulted in two free throws by Covington.
After a backcourt violation called on Milwaukee, Noel made two free throws with 35.9 seconds left to give Philadelphia the lead.
Monroe then overthrew an inbounds pass when he had Antetokoumpo wide open for a backdoor lob.
Noel hit a jumper and Ilyasova had two clinching free throws to finish the scoring.
