Cavaliers fall to Milwaukee in overtime

Milwaukee’s Drew Gooden shoots over Cleveland’s Antawn Jamison. Gooden had 19 points for the Bucks. ASSOCIATED PRESS Enlarge

CLEVELAND — Brandon Jennings scored 24 points and made a big layup in overtime as the Milwaukee Bucks rallied for a 113-112 win Friday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were without rookie guard Kyrie Irving and lost center Anderson Varejao in the third quarter with a sprained wrist.

Jennings added eight assists for the Bucks, who trailed by 10 late in the third period — right after Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles was ejected.

Drew Gooden scored 19 points and made two free throws with 4.4 seconds left in OT for Milwaukee.

Antawn Jamison had a season-high 34 points and 11 rebounds, but Cleveland’s forward missed two free throws — after a foul underneath on Gooden — with 3.7 seconds to go in regulation and the game tied.

Ramon Sessions added 16 assists in his second start in place of Irving, who missed his second straight game with a concussion.

The Cavaliers went just 4 of 14 from the field and 2 of 6 from the line in the final 8:06.

Gooden scored Milwaukee’s first four points in OT, and after the Cavs pulled to 108-106, Jennings drove the lane and dropped his layup in over rookie Tristan Thompson. Jennings later split a pair of free throws, keeping Cleveland’s hopes alive, but Alonzo Gee made just 1 of 2 free throws for the Cavs to make it 111-109 with 5.2 seconds left.

Gooden was fouled and made his two free throws to give the Bucks a four-point lead before Gee drained a 3-pointer at the horn to close the scoring between two teams that could be in the mix for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot.

On Thursday, Jennings, who was miffed about not being named an All-Star reserve, caused some angst among Bucks fans by saying in an interview with ESPN.com that he was already “doing my homework” on big-market teams. He’s eligible for free agency in two years.

Irving missed his first game as a pro Wednesday after being diagnosed with concussion symptoms shortly before tip-off against the Clippers. He also will sit out Saturday’s home game against Philadelphia and won’t play again until next Wednesday against Indiana — at the earliest.

Under the league’s new concussion guidelines, players are not permitted to do any physical activity until their symptoms go away completely. Irving complained of a headache earlier this week after he was inadvertently kneed in the head at Miami. The 19-year-old did nothing on Friday but watch the game from the end of Cleveland’s bench.

Already without their best player, the Cavs lost Varejao early in the second half with a sprained right wrist. The Cavs said X-rays were negative on the center, who has been playing at an All-Star level. Cleveland can’t afford to be without him for long.