Nets-Bucks Preview

By TOM CASTRO
Posted Apr 20 2012 2:55PM

A terribly timed slump has caused the Milwaukee Bucks' playoff hopes to fade. Though still in the race, they'll have to be much better at stopping opponents to give themselves a chance to make the postseason.

Desperate to end a three-game losing streak, the Bucks try to tighten up their defense Saturday night as they go for a season sweep of the visiting New Jersey Nets, a team they've beaten 10 straight times.

Milwaukee's troubles continued with a 118-109 loss to Indiana on Thursday. Since a 13-4 stretch from March 9-April 7, the Bucks (29-33) have dropped five of six and as a result are barely hanging on in the Eastern Conference race.

Milwaukee trails Philadelphia by three games for the final playoff spot with four left for each team, including a head-to-head matchup at the Bradley Center on Wednesday. The Bucks would be eliminated Saturday if they lose and the 76ers beat the Pacers on the road.

The biggest reason for Milwaukee's slide has been a disappearance of defense. The Bucks have allowed an average of 110.2 points in their past six games after surrendering 93.8 per game in the previous six.

They gave up 121 points in a defeat to woeful Washington on Wednesday.

"It just seems like we just can't hold teams down defensively. They're getting in to the 110-120-point range every night," swingman Mike Dunleavy said after Thursday's game. " ... We're on the outside looking in. We have to do something extraordinary right now."

Milwaukee's competitive spirit hasn't waned, something evident from a rough battle with the Pacers that saw two altercations, four technical fouls, a flagrant foul and an ejection. The intensity level, though, didn't transfer to the Bucks' defense, as the club allowed 28 fast-break points and 54 in the paint.

"One game at a time. We know we have to win out," forward Drew Gooden said. "But we can only do it one game at a time."

They'll try to start a run to the finish against the Nets (22-41), whom they've defeated twice this season - both times on the road. Besides the 10 consecutive overall victories, Milwaukee has won four straight home games in the series, allowing an average of 87.5 points.

The Nets also will be looking to snap a three-game skid after falling 104-95 to New York on Wednesday. They trailed 38-22 after the first quarter but got within five late in the third despite missing All-Star guard Deron Williams.

"I thought our second unit, some of our subs did a really good job against their bench and then we got back into the game," coach Avery Johnson said.

New Jersey got 39 points from its reserves, led by Gerald Green with 12.

Sundiata Gaines had 18 points and six assists in place of Williams, but the Nets fell to 1-7 without him this season. Williams' sore right calf also will cause him to miss Saturday's game.

Williams sat out the teams' last meeting, a 105-99 Bucks win March 12, and Milwaukee point guard Brandon Jennings took advantage with 34 points, seven assists, seven rebounds and two blocks. Jennings has scored 52 points in the last two contests despite shooting 38.0 percent from the field.

Gooden had a big game as well March 12, scoring 23 points while adding eight rebounds and seven assists.

Bucks beats Nets 106-95

Posted Apr 21 2012 11:54PM

MILWAUKEE (AP) Aaron Rodgers told Brandon Jennings something he didn't want to hear.

After Jennings scored 30 points to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 106-95 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Saturday night, the Green Bay Packers quarterback stood in front of his courtside seat and informed the guard that his team's playoff chances took a hit.

Philadelphia won in overtime at Indiana, meaning the 76ers' magic number dropped to one to clinch the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee trails Philadelphia by three games with three games left, including one against the 76ers on Wednesday.

"He told me, `Those Pacers let you down tonight,"' Jennings said of the Super Bowl champion quarterback. "I said, `That sounds like them.' He told me to just keep playing hard no matter what; just keep playing."

Jennings, who hit three straight 3-pointers late in the game, was 9 of 18 from the field and finished with six rebounds, six assists and four steals.

"I've been struggling from the 3 lately and I got a couple finally to go tonight," Jennings said. "Once I made the first one, that gave me a little confidence."

Ersan Ilyasova added 17 points and 17 rebounds for the Bucks, who snapped a three-game losing streak and beat New Jersey for the 11th straight time.

Gerald Wallace finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds for New Jersey, which hasn't beaten Milwaukee since March 3, 2009.

MarShon Brooks had 17 points for the Nets, who lost their fourth straight.

"I think they did a real good job being physical, taking us out of our offense, making us start our offense a little bit higher than we wanted to do," Brooks said. "They're a good team. They made some good plays, they executed down the stretch and we didn't."

It was the most points for Jennings since he scored 34 at New Jersey on March 12. The guard, whose season high is 36 points, led Milwaukee on a 13-4 run.

It began with a 3 from the left corner that gave the Bucks a 94-89 lead with 3:26 to play.

After a dunk by Brooks, Jennings drilled another 3 from the left wing for a 97-91 lead with 2:31 left.

Kris Humphries had another dunk for the Nets to trim the deficit to 97-93 with 2:19 remaining, but Milwaukee scored the next seven points.

Ilyasova's layup was followed by a 3 from Jennings from the right wing for a 102-93 lead with 1:32 left. Shaun Livingston's dunk after a turnover by Brooks gave the Bucks a 104-93 lead with 53 seconds to play.

On Monday, Milwaukee hosts Toronto and Philadelphia travels to New Jersey.

"We can't lose any sleep over what (the 76ers) do," Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles said. "We created the position we're in and we, ultimately me, are responsible for the position we're in. We need to now win out and see what happens."

In the first half, the score was tied at 37 when Milwaukee closed the second quarter with a 16-5 run. Two free throws by Drew Gooden with 1 second left gave the Bucks a 53-42 halftime lead.

Milwaukee's lead was trimmed to 73-69 when Johan Petro hit a hook shot with 22.5 seconds left in the third quarter.

Notes: Jennings had just four points in the opening quarter. . G Deron Williams missed his third straight game for New Jersey because of a sore right calf. . Ilyasova played after missing Milwaukee's last game with right knee/quad soreness. . The Bucks' Larry Sanders began his two-game suspension for his ejection from the Indiana game. . Milwaukee had lost its previous three home games. . Milwaukee was 26 of 37 from the free-throw line while New Jersey was 11 of 15.

Notebook: Bucks 106, Nets 95

Posted Saturday April 21, 2012 11:51PM

By Rick Braun, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Brandon Jennings scored 30 points, including three big 3-pointers in a span of 1:54 seconds of the fourth quarter, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 106-95 victory over the New Jersey Nets Saturday night.

Despite the victory, the Bucks' slim playoff chances took a huge blow when the Philadelphia 76ers won on the road at Indiana. The Bucks need to win their final three games and have Philadelphia lose its final three to make the playoffs.

Ersan Ilyasova added 17 points and 17 rebounds as the Bucks (30-33) snapped a three-game losing streak.

Gerald Wallace scored 18 to lead the Nets (22-42), who lost their fourth straight. The Nets have lost their last 11 games to Milwaukee.

QUOTABLE: "We can't lose any sleep over what they do. We've created the position we're in. We -- ultimately me -- are responsible for the position we're in. We need to win out and see what happens."
-- Bucks coach Scott Skiles, whose team will be eliminated from the playoffs with any loss or Philadelphia victory

THE STAT: The Nets outscored the Bucks by four points from the field, but the Bucks had a 15-point advantage at the free-throw line, going 26-for-37 to New Jersey's 11-for-15.

TURNING POINT: Monta Ellis didn't make his first field goal of the night until he cut to the basket and took a nice pass from Drew Gooden to snap a 37-37 tie with 4:13 left in the half. Two free throws by Jennings made it 41-37 with 3:46 left in the half, and that little 4-0 spurt put the Bucks on top for good.

QUOTABLE II: "I've been in this position before on other teams, and it kind of hurts. But all you can do is handle your upcoming games and see where you're at. Until you're mathematically out of the playoffs, all you can do is keep fighting."
-- Bucks center Drew Gooden on his team's slim playoff hopes

HOT: Jennings' 9-for-18 night won't knock any socks off, but he was 3-for-3 in the fourth quarter, all 3-pointers.

NOT: Nets guard MarShon Brooks had trouble finding the range as he made just 7-for-18 shots. He's 9-for-24 over the last two games.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Along with his 30 points, Jennings also had six rebounds, six assists and four steals.

INSIDE THE ARENA: Former American Idol runner-up Danny Gokey was honored on the court during the second quarter as a "Homecourt Hero" for his charity work in starting Sophia's Heart Foundation. Gokey is from Milwaukee. ... Green Bay Packers quarterback and NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers also was in the house in courtside seats.

NOTABLE: Bucks coach Scott Skiles talked before the game of the advantage of bringing Luc Richard Mbah a Moute off the bench, but Mbah a Moute was in the starting lineup 45 minutes later as Carlos Delfino was unable to play because of a groin strain that has hampered him the last three weeks. Delfino had missed six games earlier this month with the injury. ... Bucks second-year forward Larry Sanders was serving the first game of a two-game suspension for his actions Thursday night when he was ejected at Indiana and did not leave the floor in a timely manner. ... Nets point guard Deron Williams missed his third straight game with a calf injury.

UP NEXT: For the Nets, Monday vs. Philadelphia, Thursday @ Toronto. For the Bucks, Monday vs. Toronto, Wednesday vs. Philadelphia, Thursday @ Boston.

• Nets: James, Lopez
• Bucks: Brown, Leuer

• Nets: --
• Bucks: --

• Lead Changes: 11
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
• Officials: #43 Dan Crawford, #6 Tony Brown, #73 Tre Maddox
• Attendance: 15939
• Duration: 2:05