Spurs-Bucks Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Jan 09 2012 5:05PM

Playing at home versus on the road has made the all difference for both the first-place San Antonio Spurs and scuffling Milwaukee Bucks.

The Southwest Division-leading Spurs seek a fifth consecutive victory over a Bucks team looking forward to returning home Tuesday night following a disappointing five-game trek.

While San Antonio (6-3) remains undefeated at home, it is still searching for its first road win after suffering a 108-96 defeat at Oklahoma City on Sunday.

The Spurs have been outscored by an average of 14.0 points during their 0-3 start on the road, where they're shooting just 40.9 percent from the field - significantly lower than their 47.7 mark at home.

Already playing without two-time All-Star Manu Ginobili (broken left hand), San Antonio received a scare when point guard Tony Parker exited Sunday's loss midway through the third quarter. Parker, though, apparently could have returned and is expected to suit up Tuesday.

"You just have to think about the next one," Parker, who ranks second in the league with a 4.92 assist-to-turnover ratio, told NBA.com. "There are so many games and you cannot worry about one loss too long. It happens. We just have to focus on the next game."

Three days after defeating last-place Minnesota 98-95, the Bucks (2-6) prevailed 102-81 over winless Washington on Dec. 30 to remain unbeaten at home.

Milwaukee's hoping to regroup at the Bradley Center after going 0-5 on its recently completed road trip.

Point guard Brandon Jennings, who leads the team with 18.1 points per game, was held to a season-low five on 2-of-7 shooting during Sunday's 109-93 loss at Phoenix.

"It's very disappointing. The fact that we go 0-5 on the west coast road trip, but the thing about it is we have more games," he said. "We have a chance to go home and try to get our record back up and try to make some noise."

"It's been tough without having everybody, just in general. Beno (Udrih) is out, Luc (Mbah a Moute), so me playing a lot of minutes, it can really get to you."

Jennings figures to be well rested following a much-needed day off, and while Mbah a Moute (right knee tendinitis) and Udrih (left shoulder strain) are both uncertain to face the Spurs, the Bucks could get a boost with former No. 1 overall pick Andrew Bogut back on the court.

Bogut, averaging 14.3 points and a team-high 10.0 rebounds, has missed the last four games dealing with personal issues in his native Australia but is expected to return Tuesday.

Milwaukee has dropped four straight matchups with San Antonio - including a 91-84 loss last Jan. 12 despite 15 points and 14 boards from Bogut. Jennings, who was sidelined that contest, has scored just 11.3 points per game on 27.7 percent shooting in three previous meetings in this series.

Though the Bucks won't have to worry about facing Ginobili, they could have their hands full with Richard Jefferson.

The veteran small forward, who spent the 2008-09 season with Milwaukee before being dealt to San Antonio, has made 20 of 31 (64.5 percent) from 3-point range in averaging 16.2 points over his last five games - 4.7 more than he scored during his first four.

The Spurs are hoping to avoid opening 0-4 on the road for the second time in three seasons.

The Bucks haven't lost six in a row since concluding their 2007-08 campaign with eight consecutive defeats.

Jackson helps Bucks top Spurs 106-103

Posted Jan 10 2012 11:47PM

MILWAUKEE (AP) Stephen Jackson is starting to find his rhythm.

Gregg Popovich is still searching for his defense.

Jackson had 34 points and eight assists in his best game since joining Milwaukee in an offseason trade, leading the Bucks to a 106-103 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.

"My shot is starting to get in better shape, that's the main thing," said Jackson, who missed 70 of his 103 shots in the team's first eight games.

Jackson was slowed by a lower back injury in the offseason that limited his practice during the shortened training camp and preseason.

"People have got to realize that I haven't played basketball in six months," he said. "It feels good to knock down a shot, but it feels better that we won."

Tony Parker scored 22 points for San Antonio, which has lost all four of its road games while winning all six of its home contests.

Popovich, who has been the Spurs' coach since 1996, had a scathing indictment of his team's defense.

"It's the worst defensive team we've ever had," he said. "We have a long way to go."

Milwaukee also got a big lift from the return of center Andrew Bogut, who had 14 points and 11 rebounds after missing four games to return home to Australia for an undisclosed personal issue.

"I wasn't feeling great, but I wasn't feeling too bad," Bogut said. "I thought I'd feel worse to be honest with you. My sleep patterns have been off."

The Bucks had lost five consecutive games, losing big leads in many of the contests.

"We won, that's what we did different," Jackson said. "That's all that matters. We found a way to win and close the game out."

Richard Jefferson's tying 3-point attempt hit the back of the rim at the buzzer.

"It was a good shot, it just didn't fall," he said.

Popovich blamed himself for the team not getting a good play to run in the final seconds. He said he yelled for the players to call timeout instead of telling the referees he wanted one.

"I've got to get it through my head that you can go to the officials," he said. "I just can't get it through my head. I should have been all over the official to get the timeout.

"I tried to yell out to the players for the timeout and they didn't hear it," he said, terming the final play `alley ball.' It was my fault. I should have been on top of the referee."

Jackson was obtained from Charlotte on June 23 in a deal that also included Sacramento. He struggled with his shot the first eight games, making only 32 percent of his field-goal attempts.

He had no such problems against the Spurs, making 12 of 17 shots, including a 3-for-4 night from 3-point range. He also hit all seven of his free throw attempts while playing 42 minutes.

"He was great," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. "He scored the ball, he passed the ball. He did a lot of stuff out there. We needed that, for sure."

Carlos Delfino had 18 points and Brandon Jennings added 15 points and 11 assists for Milwaukee.

Tim Duncan scored 20 points and rookie Kawhi Leonard had 19 for San Antonio.

Trailing 104-103, Parker set up San Antonio's offense with just under a minute left looking for the go-ahead basket. Jennings reached around his back and knocked the ball away to Jackson.

Jackson made a quick pass to a streaking Jennings for the easy fast-break dunk, giving the Bucks a 106-103 lead with 50 seconds left.

Duncan then was called for an offensive foul on Bogut with 35 seconds left.

A jump ball went to the Spurs with 15 seconds remaining, but no timeout was called. Parker worked the 3-point line, but was unable to shake Jennings and passed to Jefferson. The forward's shot went off the back of the rim and was rebounded by Bucks rookie Jon Leuer as time expired.

The Bucks took the lead for good, 93-92, on Jackson's 14-foot jumper with 6:53 to go.

Jefferson's 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the first half pulled the Spurs into a 59-59 tie at the break.

Notes: Spurs G T.J. Ford strained his left hamstring in the first quarter and did not return. Popovich said there was no timetable for his return. . Bucks G Mike Dunleavy will miss another two to four weeks due to a groin injury. He has only played in three games. . Bucks F Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (right knee tendinitis) and G Beno Udrih (left shoulder sprain) both missed the game. . It was the only time the teams play this season.

Notebook: Bucks 106, Spurs 103

By Rick Braun, for NBA.com
Posted Tuesday January 10, 2012 11:20PM

THE FACTS: Stephen Jackson had his best game by far with Milwaukee as he scored 34 points and dished out eight assists to lead the Bucks to a 106-103 victory over the San Antonio Spurs Tuesday night at the Bradley Center.

QUOTABLE: "We won. That's what we did different. And that's all that matters to me. We found a way to win; we closed the game out."
-- Stephen Jackson, whose previous bests were 18 points and five assists this season.

THE STAT: The Bucks were outshot (60 percent to 51.8) and outrebounded 35-30, but went 9-for-14 on 3-pointers while the Spurs went just 4-for-14.

TURNING POINT: The Spurs had cut a seven-point deficit to one and had the ball in the final minute when Brandon Jennings reached around and poked the ball away from Tony Parker. The ball went to Jackson, who fed Jennings upcourt for a dunk that made it 106-103 with 50.1 seconds left.

QUOTABLE II: "It's the worst defensive team we've ever had. We've got a long way to go."
-- Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who is in his 16th season as the team's head coach.

HOT: Tim Duncan and rookie Kawhi Leonard both were 9-for-12 for the Spurs. Jackson was 12-for-17 for the Bucks after entering the game at 32 percent for the season.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Jennings had his first double-double with 15 points and 11 assists.

INSIDE THE ARENA: Andy North, the 1978 and '85 U.S. Open golf champion, was in courtside seats and chatted with Bucks forward Jon Leuer at halftime. North lives in Madison, Wis., and is a big-time booster of the University of Wisconsin, where Leuer played last season.

GOOD MOVE: After the Spurs made 12 of their first 15 shots, Bucks coach Scott Skiles made four substitutions at a timeout with 3:28 left in the first quarter and the Bucks trailing, 25-18. Skiles inserted Leuer for Ersan Ilyasova, Drew Gooden for Andrew Bogut, rookie Tobias Harris for Carlos Delfino and Shaun Livingston for Jennings. Over the next 10 minutes, the Spurs went 6-for-16 and the Bucks took a 44-41 lead.

ROOKIE WATCH: Leonard had season highs of 19 points and four steals as he went 9-for-12 from the field for the Spurs.

NOTABLE: Leuer, a second-round pick, appears to be nudging Ilyasova out of playing time. Leuer replaced Ilyasova with 3:28 left in the first quarter and played the rest of the half and all of the third quarter before Ilyasova saw the court again. Leuer logged 29:43 at power forward, posting 10 points and five rebounds. Ilyasova played the other 18:17, posting seven points and four rebounds. ... Spurs backup point guard T.J. Ford left late in the first quarter with a pulled left hamstring and did not return. He had to be helped from the court and was putting almost no weight on the leg. ... Manu Ginobili (broken hand) missed his fifth straight game for the Spurs, while Mike Dunleavy (groin pain) missed his sixth straight game and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (right knee tendinitis) missed his fourth straight game for the Bucks.

UP NEXT: For the Spurs, Wednesday vs. Houston, Friday vs. Portland, Sunday vs. Phoenix. For the Bucks, Thursday vs. Detroit, Friday @ Dallas, Monday @ Philadelphia.

• Spurs: Ginobili, Joseph
• Bucks: Dunleavy, Mbah a Moute

• Spurs: --
• Bucks: --

• Lead Changes: 15
• Times Tied: 9

• Arena: Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
• Officials: #14 Ed Malloy, #47 Bennie Adams, #68 Marat Kogut
• Attendance: 11585
• Duration: 1:59