MILWAUKEE -- Just over a year ago, the long-term prospects of the Milwaukee Bucks as an NBA franchise seemed very much in doubt.

Those doubts are being gradually erased with new owners, a new logo, a possible franchise draftee in injured rookie Jabari Parker and even maybe a new arena coming down the pike.

But if it's what happens on the court that fans buy into, then after the on-court events of the past two games at the Bradley Center, the prospects of the Bucks are glowing.

The Bucks' buzzer-beating win over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday not only staved off elimination for at least a couple of days, but showcased to a national television audience the elements that helped Milwaukee go from 15 wins to the postseason in one year.

"You lose, and you go home," O.J. Mayo said. "We didn't want to go home, so we went out there and fought."

For much of the season, Bucks coach Jason Kidd developed his cadre of young talents as a starting unit while winning games largely on the work of an impact bench. That reserve unit, comprised of undersized shooters and led by Jerryd Bayless, Mayo, John Henson and Jared Dudley, kept the Bucks alive to fight another day.

"First, the starters did a really good job, and they cause a lot of turnovers, as well," Bayless said. "But our group that comes in, we just really try to get out there and pressure a little bit more.

"We're still believing, and we're not giving up on this series. We're going to keep going, whatever happens."

Though the Bucks' second unit is an offensive group, it was the way it defended that turned the tide on Saturday. The foundation of Milwaukee's second-ranked defensive unit during the regular season was ball pressure and forcing mistakes.

"I thought Bayless and Juice were great," Kidd said. "They were penetrating, but, again, we are built on a foundation of defense. Those guys did a great job defensively."

On Saturday, the Bucks rolled up 20 steals, forced 28 turnovers and scored 39 points off the miscues. Seven steals came from reserves, who outscored their Chicago counterparts 47-13.

"They're swarming," Bulls forward Pau Gasol said. "They're doing a good job putting pressure on us. We've got to do a much better job taking care of the ball, individually and collectively."

Despite Chicago's omnipresent size advantage, the Bucks held their own on the glass once again. The Bulls had just five offensive rebounds and five second-chance points, while the Bucks grabbed 12 offensive boards for 13 points. With edges in turnovers and on the defensive glass, the Bucks got up 19 more shots in the game, enough to offset their 39 percent shooting.

"The biggest thing was their intensity," said Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. "When you're aggressive like that, and you are making someone react to you, you have an advantage."

Milwaukee's bench also accounted for 16 of Milwaukee's 25 assists on 34 field goals, a ratio more in line with the ball-sharing philosophy that marked the Bucks' season.

"I think a lot of us have been in -- not going to say unfavorable [situations], but we've been around," Bayless said. "These guys and their will to keep fighting every night throughout the 82-game season, and now in the playoffs, and try to win, it's something that I'm really happy to be a part of."

After Kidd's bench helped establish a nine-point lead in the second quarter, the Bulls scored the last nine points of the half as the Milwaukee starters returned to the floor. The teams were knotted at 50 entering the break after Jimmy Butler's halftime buzzer-beater.

That gave Butler a 23-point half, a total he upped to 30 by the end of the third quarter. It was just another big performance from a player averaging 28 points in the series. However, the Bucks adjusted in the fourth, sending aggressive double-teams at Butler on the wing.

Kidd, knowing a good thing when he sees it, rode his second unit all the way to the finish. His last substitution came when Mayo replaced Giannis Antetokounmpo with 32.9 second left in the third quarter -- the second unit, along with starter Khris Middleton, played the entire fourth quarter.

"It's who we are," Kidd said. "That group out there was going, and we were going to ride them as long as they could stand."

The Bulls had a chance to go ahead in the final seconds. Tom Thibodeau attempted to get a timeout from the sideline but didn't, and the Bulls' Derrick Rose tried to create a game-winning shot. Instead, Khris Middleton stripped him as he spun, and Kidd alertly called a timeout with 1.3 seconds left.

"Getting the stop was the most important thing," Kidd said. "For a young team to execute late is important."

After the timeout, Bayless appeared to break toward the corner, then reversed course with a sharp back cut, and lost Rose. Dudley delivered a perfect pass. Bayless converted the layup, the clock showed zeroes and the Bradley Center erupted.

"It was honestly trying to beat them backdoor," Bayless said. "There was only 1.3 left on the clock and trying to get them backdoor, like I was trying to get to the corner. We were hoping [Rose] was going to bite, and he bit on it. Duds made a spectacular pass, and luckily, I was able to finish it."

In the end, it's just one win for a team that still trails 3-1 in the series. However, given where the Bucks were last year, to reward their exuberant fans with a double-overtime thriller on Thursday, followed by a buzzer-beating win on Saturday, it could pay dividends for a team hoping for public support in the effort to nail down financing for the arena redevelopment project. If that is the last Milwaukee sees of the Bucks this season, it was quite an impression to leave it with.