Chicago ? Kirk Hinrich and the Chicago Bulls are starting to play in a relaxed fashion, and it’s resulting in victories.

Hinrich scored nine of his 28 points in a 15-0 run, and the Bulls beat the slump-ridden Milwaukee Bucks, 85-77, Thursday night to win consecutively for the first time this season. The Bulls beat the Grizzlies, 96-88, on Wednesday night in Memphis.

Eddy Curry added 18 points for the Bulls, who won for the fourth time in six games.

“Earlier in the year, we were uptight and we weren’t playing with very much confidence and it’s almost like the exact opposite now,” Hinrich said. “We are starting to get confident as a team. Our morale is lot better.”

Michael Redd had 22 points for Milwaukee, which lost its third straight game and 13th of 16 overall. The Bucks are 1-9 on the road.

“We just didn’t get it going tonight,” Milwaukee coach Terry Porter said. “We couldn’t hit anything and their defense was blocking a lot of shots.”

Redd hit a jumper to put the Bucks ahead 63-61 with 10:08 left, but the Bulls responded with the decisive run. Hinrich hit a jumper to tie the score at 63 and Curry had a dunk over Zaza Pachulia, giving Chicago a 73-63 lead with 6:40 left.

Hinrich hit a three the next time down. The Bucks didn’t get their next basket until Joe Smith scored with 5:02 remaining.

“They looked like they had more energy in the fourth quarter and that shouldn’t have happened,” Redd said. “We had no offense. All in all, it was a struggle all night.”

Chicago's Kirk Hinrich pumps his first following a Milwaukee turnover. Hinrich scored 28 points in the Bulls' 85-77 victory Thursday night in Chicago.

Tyson Chandler tied a career high with seven blocked shots to go with six points and 10 rebounds for Chicago, 6-6 since starting the season 0-9.

“I feel like I could have been a little more aggressive on the offensive end, but I felt it was a good overall game,” Chandler said. “I rebounded the ball well, and had a few blocks out there.”

Desmond Mason added 15 points for Milwaukee, and Smith had 12 points and 11 rebounds.

The Bulls had not won back-to-back games since March 31 and April 2 last season. Milwaukee has lost 30 of its last 36 games at the United Center.

Lakers 115, Kings 99

Sacramento, Calif. — Kobe Bryant had 31 points and 12 assists, Lamar Odom scored 22 points, and Los Angeles handed Sacramento just its third loss in 17 games.

Brian Cook hit four of the Lakers’ 12 three-pointers in perhaps their best game of the season.

In a building where Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal enjoyed some of their greatest playoff triumphs during the last six seasons, the new Lakers handed Sacramento its worst home loss since a 116-95 loss to San Antonio on March 2, 1998.

Chris Webber and Bobby Jackson scored 20 points apiece for the Kings, whose starters spent the final five minutes sitting on the bench.

Pistons 81, Cavaliers 69

Auburn Hills, Mich. — Richard Hamilton scored 21 points, and Detroit held Cleveland to a six-point third quarter and almost held LeBron James scoreless in the second half.

It looked like it might not be James’ night when he shot two airballs on a single possession in the first quarter. He finished with 11 points on 4-of-21 shooting, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Cleveland point guard Eric Snow was sent to the locker room after getting in an argument on the bench with Cavaliers coach Paul Silas in the second quarter.

Snow returned to the bench after halftime, but seldom-used backup Dajuan Wagner played in his place.

Silas was upset with Snow because the Cavaliers turned the ball over on an eight-second violation.

“Nobody was open,” Snow shouted back at Silas.