BRIGHTER SKIES AHEAD– The Bucks have faced an NBA-high 26 opponents with records of .500 or better so far
this season and have gone 9-17 in those games. New Jersey has had the second-highest number of .500+
opponents with 24 and has gone 6-18 in those contests. Since December 27, out of their eight games, all but one
Bucks opponent has had a +.500 record. Those teams (including NJ, with a 10-26 record) combined for a .663
winning percentage (181-92) going into their games against the Bucks. The Bucks next five opponents combine for
a .358 record (68-122).
ERS-ON THE GLASS – Ersan Ilyasova pulled down 10 rebounds in the Bucks loss to the Spurs Wednesday. So far
this season, Ilyasova has recorded 10 or more rebounds in seven contests. In those seven games (Nov 10 @ ATL,
Nov 26 @ DET, Dec 8 vs. IND, Dec 21 @ LAL, Jan 1 vs. DAL, Jan 8 @ NJ, Jan 12 vs. Spurs), the Bucks have gone 5-2
and have outrebounded their opponents 44.3-35.7 (310-250) per game. Ilyasova has averaged 16.9 points and
11.7 rebounds in those seven. For more information on these games, check out the stat box to the right.
MAGGETTE AT THE LINE – Corey Maggette leads the Bucks in made free throws this season with 141. His 4.5
made free throws per game ranks 24th in the NBA. Of those players averaging 4.5 FTs per game, Maggette
averages the fewest minutes with 19.3. All others average over 30 minutes per game. Maggette stands in 52nd
place in all-time free throws made in the NBA with 4,261 and needs 32 to top Jack Sikma (4,292) for 50th place.
STEADY SALMONS – John Salmons has scored in double digits in each of the past 12 games. Over those contests, he is averaging a team-high 17.1 points,
3.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals. Salmons is also connecting on 53.3 percent (24-45) from long range in those 12. Against San Antonio on
Wednesday, Salmons was 6-13 (.462) from the field and 2-2 from 3-point distance.
NO LITTLE ACCOMPLISHMENT – With his 12 points against San Antonio, Bucks 5-5 point guard Earl Boykins has tallied 5,538 points over his 12-year NBA
career and is 12th in career points for players under 6-feet. Boykins needs 477 points to pass Fred Scolari for 11th place. Out of the 11 players ahead of
Boykins, only one (5-3 Muggsy Bogues) is 5-5 or shorter.
- Drew Gooden returned to action for the Bucks on Wednesday after missing nine games due to left foot plantar
fasciitis. Gooden finished with eight points, three rebounds, one steal and one block in 10:28.
- Keyon Dooling has had six or more assists in each of the past three games. In those games, he has a 4.00:1
assist to turnover (20-5) ratio. Over the past two games, Dooling dished out 13 assists to just one mishandle.
- With his 12 points against the Spurs, Earl Boykins has scored in double digits in the past four games and is
averaging 13.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists in those contests. Boykins has not missed a free throw
attempt in five games (14-14) and is 21-22 (.955) in the past six. On the season, Boykins has connected on
86.5 percent (32-37) from the charity stripe.
- Andrew Bogut notched his 13th double-double of the season Wednesday with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
- The Bucks have recorded an equal or greater number of rebounds than their opponents in six of the last
seven games. In those games, they are outrebounding their opponents 45.3-41.6 per game. The Bucks rank
third in the league in defensive rebound percentage, collecting 76.4 percent of the available boards.
- A few milestones are on the horizon for the Bucks: Drew Gooden is (448) two steals away from 450 and (396)
four blocks from 400; Earl Boykins (1,987) is 13 assists from 2,000.
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