Bucks-Wizards Preview

By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN
Posted Apr 01 2012 10:31PM

The Milwaukee Bucks know they can't afford any slip-ups against the NBA's worst teams if they want to make the playoffs.

The Bucks start a four-game stretch against losing opposition when they visit the Washington Wizards on Monday night.

Milwaukee (24-28) trails New York by 2 1/2 games for the Eastern Conference's eighth and final playoff spot. After traveling to Washington (12-40), the Bucks host Cleveland, Charlotte and Portland - they are a combined 7-1 against those four teams.

"This whole thing is there for the taking," forward Mike Dunleavy said. "It's are we going to be able to get it done?"

The Bucks have won nine of 13 but followed up Friday's 121-84 rout of the Cavaliers with a 99-95 home loss to Memphis one night later. The Grizzlies outrebounded Milwaukee 58-39.

"It was a huge factor," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said of the rebounding disparity. "It was a big point of emphasis and we just didn't get it done. When we're struggling offensively, that takes away clean rebounds, and outlets, and fast breaks, and hopefully getting some easy baskets."

Brandon Jennings scored 24 points and Drew Gooden added 20 for Milwaukee, which shot 41.5 percent after connecting at a 56.8 percent clip in the win over the Cavs.

"We don't take the easy plays," Dunleavy said. "That's why we end up with 80 points against these good teams and 115 against the bad ones."

Milwaukee has won both meetings with Washington this season - both at home - and visit the Verizon Center twice during the regular season's final month. These teams don't usually play close games, with seven straight matchups decided by double digits before the Bucks won 119-118 on Feb. 28 when Ersan Ilyasova tipped in Jennings' miss with 2.2 seconds left.

This is the first meeting between these teams since the Bucks acquired Monta Ellis from Golden State on March 14. Ellis has struggled with Milwaukee, averaging 14.1 points on 38.3 percent shooting in nine games after leading the Warriors with 21.9 points per game on 43.3 percent shooting.

Jordan Crawford is averaging 21.5 points in the season series for Washington, which has lost six of seven overall after falling 99-92 at Toronto on Sunday.

The Wizards played without starters Nene and Trevor Booker, both sidelined with left foot injuries.

"I thought our guys fought hard being short-handed the way we were, we just couldn't get over the hump," coach Randy Wittman said.

Washington has shown recent improvement on defense, holding its last nine opponents below 100 points for the first time since Nov. 30-Dec. 17, 2002.

"You want the victories to come but time will tell with that," point guard John Wall said. "You've just got to be patient. Just know that you're working on your game and getting better and everything will work out fine."

The injuries allowed younger players to receive more playing time Sunday. Rookie forward Jan Vesely made his first start since Feb. 3 and had 10 points, four assists and four rebounds in a season-high 34 minutes.

"Jan's gotta continue to be aggressive, look at the rim," Wittman said. "Right now he doesn't sometimes look at the rim at the offensive end."

Bucks top Wizards, inch closer to 8th playoff spot

By JOSEPH WHITE
Posted Apr 02 2012 10:59PM

WASHINGTON (AP) Brandon Jennings put up 17 of his 19 points in the third quarter. All 10 of Shaun Livingston's points came in the fourth, when he went 5 for 5 from the floor. Ekpe Udoh, in just his 10th game with the Bucks, chipped in 15 points, eight rebounds and a career-high five assists.

It's time for Milwaukee to make a move if they're going to grab the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, especially now that they've hit a favorable stretch in the schedule. Monday night's everybody-chip-in 112-98 win over the Washington Wizards was a promising first step.

The win moved the Bucks within two games of the eighth-place New York Knicks with a five-game homestand on tap. The next three opponents - Cleveland, Charlotte and Portland - have losing records. Then comes Oklahoma City and a big-time showdown with the Knicks.

"If you want to talk about what's the most important games, I'd have to say all five of these at home - just from the fact that we've been struggling at home lately," Jennings said. "But a good thing is we'll be back at home, be able to rest in our home bed, do our regular thing that we do every day. Hopefully that can give us a lot of confidence."

Monta Ellis, also in his 10th game since joining the team after a trade-deadline deal with Golden State, added 17 points. Mike Dunleavy also had 17, while Ersan Ilyasova had 16 points and 11 rebounds. Jennings, who was 6 for 10 in the third quarter and 1 for 7 the rest of the game, also finished with seven assists and six rebounds.

That makes six players in double figures for the Bucks, who shot 52 percent and outrebounded the Wizards 48-35. Milwaukee took the lead for good with a 15-2 run at the end of the first quarter and would have won by more if it weren't for some unsightly stretches. The Bucks committed 11 of their 19 turnovers in the first half.

"More than a couple of times, we got a little loose with the ball," Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles said.

Jordan Crawford scored 23 points to lead the Wizards, who again had to go with a young lineup while Nene and Trevor Booker recover from similar injuries - both have plantar fasciitis in the left foot. Rookie Jan Vesely scored a career-high 14 points, and Kevin Seraphin had 15. John Wall finished with 14 points, nine assists and six rebounds while shooting just 4 for 13, but he clearly wasn't happy that he took only six free throws.

"I'm not going to say I got fouled so I won't get fined," Wall said. "I'm just trying to play basketball and attack the basket and do what I do. The calls didn't go my way. The shots didn't go my way, so you've got to get ready for the next time."

The Wizards have lost seven of eight and were playing the second night of a back-to-back.

"I don't think we had the bounce in our legs tonight that I've seen," Washington coach Randy Wittman said. "We were down on ourselves a couple of times. I felt it in our huddle."

Milwaukee stayed more or less in command, but the Wizards threatened to make a game of it with a 9-0 run that cut the lead to two early in the third quarter.

That's when Jennings took over. He made two finger-roll layups and a pair of free throws in a 10-0 run, then hit another driving layup in a 6-0 spurt.

The Wizards pulled within seven early in the fourth quarter on Roger Mason's 3-pointer, but the Bucks responded with a 21-7 run led by Livingston and Dunleavy to put the game away. Udoh was also a factor late, allowing center Drew Gooden to sit out the fourth quarter and nurse a sore lower back.

It's a bit of rest that might pay dividends headed into the crucial stretch at home, where the Bucks are only 12-12 this season. .

"We've got to make sure we take advantage of this spot on our schedule when we're at home, and not go home and kind of get lazy, laying around," Skiles said. "It's one of those seasons where every team feels like they've been on the road the whole season, so we've got to make sure we go home, take advantage of it and have good intensity."

Notes: Milwaukee G Beno Udrih sat out after injuring his left hand in Saturday's loss to Memphis, and F-G Carlos Delfino missed his fourth consecutive game with an injured right groin. ... The Bucks lead the season series 3-0 with one game remaining. ... Washington ended a streak of nine straight games in which it allowed fewer than 100 points. The improved defense didn't translate into success in the standings: The Wizards went 2-7 during those games.

Notebook: Bucks 112, Wizards 98

Posted Monday April 2, 2012 11:45PM

By Rich Dubroff, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Brandon Jennings had 17 of his 19 points in the third quarter as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Washington Wizards 112-98 on Monday night. Jennings was one of six Bucks in double figures. Monta Ellis and Mike Dunleavy each had 17, Ersan Ilyasova had 16 points and 11 rebounds and Ekpe Udoh had 15 points.

Milwaukee is just two games out of the final spot in the NBA's Eastern Conference, and begins a five-game homestand on Wednesday.

Washington was led by Jordan Crawford's 23 points. The Wizards have lost seven of eight.

QUOTABLE: "It's huge when you have five or six guys in double figures. This is the effort you need to make a run into the playoffs."
-- Jennings on his team's balanced scoring.

THE STAT: The Bucks outrebounded the Wizards 48-35.

TURNING POINT: After Washington cut the lead to 55-53 early in the third quarter, the Milwaukee went on a 10-0 run, to make it 65-53. The Wizards did cut the lead to seven in the fourth quarter, but the Bucks scored 21 of the next 28 points to put the game away.

QUOTABLE II: "We were down on ourselves a couple of times. I felt it in our huddle."
-- Washington head coach Randy Wittman on the Wizards' lackluster effort.

HOT: Jennings was 6-for-10 in the third quarter, and his 17 points nearly outscored Washington's 22 in the quarter.

NOT: John Wall shot just 4-for-13 from the field. He was 6-for-6 from the line, but wasn't pleased with the officiating. "I'm not going to say I got fouled, so I won't get fined," Wall said.

GOOD MOVE: Milwaukee head coach Scott Skiles subbed Dunleavy and Shaun Livingston at the right times. Dunleavy had eight points in the second and seven in the fourth. Livingston had all 10 points -- on 5-for-5 shooting in the fourth.

BAD MOVE: Except for a technical foul called on him in the third quarter, Wittman seemed a little passive. In fact, he came late to his post-game press conference and admitted he had forgotten until the Wizards public relations director reminded him of his obligation.

NOTABLE: Drew Gooden played just six minutes in the second half, and the Bucks' dominance enabled him to rest his sore lower back.

UP NEXT: For the Bucks: Wednesday vs. Cavaliers, Friday vs. Bobcats, Saturday vs. Trail Blazers. For the Wizards: Wednesday vs. Pacers, Thursday @ Pistons, Friday @ Nets

• Bucks: Brown, Delfino
• Wizards: Blatche, Lewis

• Bucks: --
• Wizards: Wittman

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
• Officials: #22 Bill Spooner, #28 Tommy Nunez Jr., #65 Sean Wright
• Attendance: 16234
• Duration: 2:02