MILWAUKEE, Jan. 9 (Ticker) -- Toni Kukoc is becoming the unofficial barometer for the Milwaukee Bucks.

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Kukoc set season highs of 24 points and 14 rebounds and Michael Redd scored 18 points as the Bucks built a huge first-half lead and hung on for their season-high fifth straight win, a 103-94 triumph over the Miami Heat.

Kukoc had previous season highs of 21 points and eight rebounds in a win over New York on Nov. 5 and had an even better overall game Friday. He made 8-of-13 shots and added five assists as Milwaukee opened a 25-point lead midway through the third quarter.

The Heat battled back and were within 90-83 with 5:15 left before Kukoc drained a three-pointer. Miami got no closer than eight points down the stretch, and Milwaukee won its eighth straight home game.

"In a situation like that, you always expect the other team to make a run," Milwaukee coach Terry Porter said. "They got on a pretty good run."

Tim Thomas scored 15 points and rookie T.J. Ford added 14 for the Bucks, who improved to 8-2 since Kukoc returned from the injured list on Dec. 20. Milwaukee is 20-16 overall but 16-11 with Kukoc in the lineup.

"He was huge for us," Porter said. "He did a lot of good things tonight. This was probably one of his best games of the year. He was into it."

"You can't put it into words (what he does for us)," teammate Damon Jones said. "He creates mismatches at (both forward positions). They had to double him and that gave our shooters opportunities we wouldn't be getting if he wasn't on the floor."

Lamar Odom led Miami with 22 points and 15 rebounds.

Miami was within 25-23 in the opening minute of the second quarter. But a layup by Kukoc ignited a 13-2 burst in which he had seven and Daniel Santiago had four.

"(Kukoc) is always matchup problem," Ford said. "He is so tall, so creative he is always a matchup problem no matter who is on him."

The lead was 22 late in the quarter before Milwaukee took a comfortable 55-36 edge into halftime.

"We just didn't defend in the second quarter, that is the bottom line," Miami guard Eddie Jones said. "We let the game slip and we turnovers that they got easy baskets on."