Bucks drop Heat to close out month perfect at home

By Rick Braun, for NBA.com
Posted Sunday January 31, 2010 12:48AM

MILWAUKEE (NBA.com exclusive) -- Defense wins in the National Basketball Association, and the Milwaukee Bucks offered the latest strong example on Saturday night.

Milwaukee held Dwyane Wade to 21 points -- six under his average -- and held the Miami Heat to a frigid 37.2 percent shooting in a 95-84 victory at the Bradley Center.

The Bucks completed an undefeated month at home, going 6-0 in January to improve to 15-7 at home and 20-25 overall.

The Bucks held Wade to 6-for-20 shooting, with the Miami superstar showing obvious frustration in the third quarter as he picked up a technical foul with 7:03 left in the quarter. Wade went to the bench with his fifth foul less than two minutes later.

"I thought the guys did a good job," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. "We tried to get up and pressure him as much as we could and get help there and make him a passer. He's such a great player and we tried to make it difficult for him."

The Bucks did just that.

Hakim Warrick led the Bucks with 22 points off the bench while Andrew Bogut added 17, 15 rebounds and four blocks. Brandon Jennings added 17, five assists and five rebounds and Carlos Delfino chipped in 16 and seven boards.

Miami fell to 24-23 one night after whipping Detroit 92-65.

"They jumped on us with a different level of pace, energy and speed," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We expected that. That's the way they play. It took us a long time to get into the game."

Turnovers and rebounding were close in the first half. But the big difference was that Milwaukee made its shots, connecting on 51 percent (21-for-41) while the Heat were held to just to a 31.7 clip (13-for-41).

Bogut had a double-double by the break with 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Bucks held a 56-38 lead.

Wade managed 13 in the first half but was just 4-for-12 with three fouls.

Miami clamped down defensively in the third, holding the Bucks to 5-for-16 shooting while closing the gap to 71-58.

Wade returned with 7:22 left and the Bucks leading 79-65.

Two free throws by Warrick pushed the lead to 81-65, and then Wade went to work.

Wade assisted on Dorell Wright's 3-pointer and then went to the line three straight times, making 4-for-6. Wade's free throws with 4:27 left got the Heat within 83-72, before Warrick and Miami's Jermaine O'Neal traded baskets three consecutive times.

With 2:09 left, Quentin Richardson and Wright made 3-pointers to cut the Bucks' lead to 89-84 with 58.6 seconds left.

But Jennings delivered a long 3-pointer with 40.9 seconds to effectively seal the game.

"I was just looking for a good shot," Jennings said. "If I was open for the three, I was going to take it. They weren't letting me get to the basket. We had to bet a bucket. We had to score right there."

It wasn't exactly the shot Skiles was hoping for, but he was glad to see it go in.

"Often times in NBA games, somebody's individual talent takes over, and that was a big shot by a talented player," Skiles said.

Richardson had 16 for Miami while O'Neal posted 15 and 10 rebounds.

Wade was playing with some pain, having some recent trouble with back spasms. The Heat played without second-year forward Michael Beasley, who missed his second straight game with a hyperextended right knee, and second-year guard Mario Chalmers.

Chalmers missed a game for the first time in his career after suffering a sprained left thumb Friday night in Detroit.

"It was tight, but no doubt I was able to play," Wade said of his back. "The only thing I can do now is hopefully get some rest tomorrow and hopefully Monday I'll be back."

The two teams meet again on Monday in Miami. The Heat are three games ahead of Milwaukee for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The game Monday starts a three-game road trip for the Bucks, who also travel to Orlando and New York. Milwaukee is 15-7 at home but just 5-18 on the road.

"The teams ahead of us [Miami, Charlotte and Chicago] have some real signature wins on the road," Skiles said. "Nothing against the teams we've beaten on the road but we're going to have to at some point go on the road and win some of those games."

• Heat: Beasley, Chalmers
• Bucks: Alexander, Elson, Redd

• Heat: Richardson, Wade
• Bucks: --

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
• Officials: #10 Ron Garretson, #11 Phil Robinson, #77 Kane Fitzgerald
• Attendance: 18717
• Duration: 2:11