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MAKING GAINS - The Bucks have made the largest win improvement in the Eastern Conference this season and
third-most in the NBA as they're currently 11 wins over last year's total of 34. The other teams with significant
improvement from last year include Oklahoma City (+26, 23-59 in 2008-09), Memphis (+16, 24-58), L.A. Clippers
(+9, 19-63), Charlotte (+9, 35-47) and Sacramento (+8, 17-55). From the 2008-09 season, the Bucks have
improved on their 26-56 record by 19 games.
JOHN DEER - Since John Salmons became a Buck (or a deer), Milwaukee has gone 21-8 (.724). Over that span,
Salmons is averaging a team-high 20.9 points to go with 3.4 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals, leading or tied
for the team lead in scoring in 16 of those games and scoring double-figures in 26 of the 29. He is shooting 47.0
(205-436) percent as a Buck, including 39.1 percent (45-115) from downtown. Salmons played in his 600th career
game on Monday.
WINNING WATERMARKS - The Bucks 45 wins are their most wins since going 52-30 in the 2000-01 season.
Milwaukee has won 30 games (30-20) against the Eastern Conference for the first time since posting a 33-21
mark in 2003-04 and their 21 wins (21-9) since the All-Star break are their most post-break since going 23-12 in
2000-01.
CALLING ON KURT - After the injury to Andrew Bogut, the Bucks have called on 14-year NBA veteran Kurt
Thomas--and he's answered the call in a big way. In his five starts at center, Thomas is averaging 6.4 points, 10.4
rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.0 block. The Bucks have won three of the five games that Thomas has started at center
and are 6-4 when he logs 25 or more minutes in a game. The big man scored his 8,500th career point on Monday
and grabbed double-digit rebounds for the fourth time in five games.
THREE HISTORY - The Bucks hit 11 three-pointers against Atlanta on Monday night, adding to their newly minted franchise record for three-pointers in a
season with 635 (sixth most in the NBA). Brandon Jennings' Bucks rookie record 144 three-pointers rank second among rookies and 14th in the NBA.
Jennings and Carlos Delfino (133, 23rd in NBA and a career-high) have combined for 277 triples, the most by a Bucks duo since Michael Redd (182) and Ray
Allen (123) hit 305 in 2002-03.
THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED - The Bucks have been taking a winning path on the road as Milwaukee's 17 road wins are the most since 2002-03 when they
were 17-24 away from home and one more road win would give them their most since going 21-20 in 2000-01. What's more, the Bucks have won 11 of
their last 15 contests away from home. In their last 15, John Salmons leads the club with 21.8 points per game (in 13 games). In 13 games before being
sidelined with an injury, Andrew Bogut averaged 15.3 points and 10.2 rebounds while Carlos Delfino, who has also played in 13 of those 15, averages 13.8
points and 5.5 rebounds. Ersan Ilyasova leads the reserves over that span with 12.2 points and 7.5 rebounds. See the stat box on page one for more.
SET THEM FREE - Luke Ridnour has taken advantage of his free throw attempts this season, knocking down 90.6 percent (125-138), good for fifth in the
NBA. If Ridnour finishes the season at 90.0 percent or better from the line (minimum of 120 makes), it would be the first time a Bucks player hit that mark
since Ray Allen knocked down 91.3 percent in the 2002-03 season. It's happened four other times in franchise history: Ray Allen 90.3 (98-99), Ricky Pierce
90.7 (90-91) and Jack Sikma with 90.5 (88-89) and 92.2 (franchise record in 87-88).
START ME UP - With a start tonight, Brandon Jennings would become the sixth Bucks player since 1999-00 to start in all 82 games, joining Ray Allen (00-
01), Anthony Mason (01-02), Michael Redd (03-04), Jamal Magloire (05-06) and Richard Jefferson (08-09). No Bucks rookie has accomplished that task in
the last 40 years. Following tonight's game, Jennings and fellow point guard Luke Ridnour will be the only two Bucks to appear in all 82 games this season.
Jennings has increased his scoring output in each of the last four games and is averaging 18.7 in his last three.
- Milwaukee has clinched its 26th playoff berth in franchise history and first since the 2005-06 season.
- The Bucks are 19-22 all-time in their last game of the regular season, including 14-11 in the regular season
finale in years that they have qualified for the playoffs.
- The Bucks committed a season-low four turnovers on Monday and have been taking care of the ball all year,
averaging just 13.3 miscues per game (fifth fewest in the league).
- The Bucks will finish second in the Central Division, their best finish since winning the Central in 2000-01.
- Luke Ridnour has scored double figures in 10 of his last 14 games, averaging 10.9 points and a team-leading
4.4 assists over that time. He is shooting 48.0 percent (59-123) during that stretch.
- One more win will give the Bucks a winning month of April, which would be the team's fourth consecutive
winning month and fifth of the season. The last time the team had more winning months was 2000-01 when
they had five.
- Jerry Stackhouse (2,999) is one rebound away from grabbing his 3,000th career board. Stackhouse has
scored 25 points in his last two games (12.5 per game).
- The Bucks are allowing just 96.0 points per game, which would set a franchise record for fewest points
allowed in a full season (currently 96.9 points in 2000-01).
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