Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach Scott Skiles

Fourth quarter…
“We struggled for most of the game. It wasn’t a pretty game for either team. When those things happen you need big plays at the end of the game and we were able to make them. We made some really good plays on the defensive end and scored just enough, made just enough baskets to get the lead and then our defense carried us down the stretch.”

Earl Boykins’ game…
“He changed the complexion even in the first half when he came in with his energy. He’s played well the last two games and we needed it. We really struggled to make shots again tonight and he’s the guy that can come in and knock down the shot.”

Andrew Bogut’s impact on the game…
“No question, he had a huge impact on the game. We were trying to go to him early having trouble with (Samuel) Dalembert guarding him but we went to him late. He had the one jump hook that went in. The other one just rimmed out. We struggled during those moments to find somebody we’d go to to get something productive.”

Andrew Bogut

Fourth quarter…
“It was an ugly game. We were terrible offensively but our defense was absolutely outstanding especially in the second half. We were hustling, taking charges. They killed us on the boards but we still won the game.”

Team defense…
“We know we are a defensive team first. When we go out and play defense like we know we can. We can have bad offensive night like we did tonight and still win games. Everyone that came in contributed.”

Earl Boykins

Taking control in the fourth…
“I just want to go out there and play consistent. I think in the NBA the hardest thing to do is to play at the same level night in and night out and that’s what I try to do.”

Playing in the fourth quarter…
“Coach is going to play the guys that are playing well. Tonight I just happen to be playing well but the difference was defensively. We held them to 15 points in the fourth quarter and whenever you do that you give yourself a chance to win the game.”

THE BOGUT BAROMETER – In Andrew Bogut's last 23 games played (dating back to last season), a Bucks foe has topped 100 points in regulation just twice (L.A. Lakers 118 on 11/16/10, @ Portland 106 on 12/20/10 – Boston scored 105 in overtime on 11/3/10). In those 23 games Bucks opponents are averaging 91.7 points (2,109) on 44.1 percent shooting (775-1,758). The Bucks are also out-rebounding those opponents with an average of 43.0 rebounds to 41.0 (988-943). This season the Bucks are 3-1 when Bogut scores 20+ points, 3-1 when he grabs 17 or more rebounds and 3-2 when he blocks five or more shots.

SALMONS SONG – John Salmons had his second consecutive (fifth of the season) 20-plus point outing on Tuesday in a win over the Lakers. He filled the stats sheet with 20 points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals. Over his last five games he's second on the team with 16.6 points while adding 3.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals. He has shot 9-15 (60.0) from 3-point range over that stretch and 45.9 percent from the field (28-61).

THREE FOR MILWAUKEE – Over the last six games the Bucks have shot 48.7 percent from three (38-78) and averaged 6.3 3-pointers per game over that stretch – more than the 5.5 (115) they averaged in the first 21 games of the season. John Salmons (9-15, 60.0 percent) and Keyon Dooling (9-18, 50.0) have combined for 18 of the makes in those six contests.

BIG MAN'S BIG GAMES – Andrew Bogut has recorded a double-double in five of the last nine games and is averaging team-highs in points (17.6), rebounds (11.9) and blocks (3.0) over that stretch. Bogut is also contributing 2.2 assists and 1.0 steal while knocking down 56.8 percent of his shots (67-118). Bogut is the only player in the NBA to average at least 14.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.

NEARING NUMBERS – Bucks center Andrew Bogut tallied his 4,500th point Tuesday at the L.A. Lakers. A few other milestones are on the horizon for the Bucks: Chris Douglas-Roberts (986) is 14 points from 1,000; Drew Gooden is (447) three steals away from 450 and (395) five blocks away from 400; Ersan Ilyasova (1,472) is 28 points from 1,500; Scott Skiles (91) is nine wins away from his 100th victory with the Bucks.

DAUNTING DECEMBER – Entering December, 11 of the Bucks 13 foes had a winning record. Earlier this month, the Bucks went 2-2 in a four-game stretch against teams with a combined 48-27 record. Milwaukee just went 2-3 in a five-game stretch against teams (at Dallas, at San Antonio, vs Utah, at Portland and at L.A. Lakers) that combined for a 103-39 record (.725). Two of the three teams the Bucks close the month with are at least seven games over .500.

• Earl Boykins scored 22 points on Tuesday against the Lakers with four 3-pointers. The last time he topped those numbers was when he had 28 points and five triples when he was with the Bucks on 4/18/07 (at CLE).
  
  
• The Bucks win at the L.A. Lakers was their first in Los Angeles since November of 2006. It was also Milwaukee's eighth win against a club with a .500-plus winning percentage on the day of the game (8-11).
  
  
• Over his last nine games, Bucks guard Keyon Dooling has handed out 29 assists against two turnovers. That's a 14.50:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. On the season, the Missouri alum has posted a 3.05:1 assist to turnover ratio (61:20).
  
  
• The Bucks have held eight of their last nine opponents under 100 points and have gone 5-4 in that span. Seven of those nine foes were held under their season average going into the game. Orlando scored 85 and averaged 99.3, Miami 88 and 100.7, Indiana 95 and 100.7, Houston 91 and 105.3, San Antonio 92 and 106.4, Utah 95 and 100.2 and L.A. Lakers 79 and 106.4.