76ers-Bucks Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Jan 22 2013 12:45AM

It appears all the Milwaukee Bucks needed was a change at the top.

After a successful road trip, interim coach Jim Boylan and the Bucks return home looking to keep things going Tuesday night against the slumping Philadelphia 76ers.

Boylan was promoted to replace former coach Scott Skiles earlier this month after Skiles and the Bucks (21-18) parted ways following a season-worst four-game losing streak. Milwaukee has fared better so far under Boylan, winning five of seven to keep pace in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

"I'm really proud of the guys," Boylan said. "They've really responded well to the coaching change. We've got our eyes on the future and that's where we are going."

The Bucks are coming off a 3-1 trek, most recently beating Portland 110-104 on Saturday. Brandon Jennings had 30 points and eight assists for Milwaukee, which is averaging 100.3 points since Boylan took over - 4.4 more than its mark under Skiles.

"He's done a really good job," Ersan Ilyasova said of Boylan, who moved the Turkish big man into the starting lineup when he was promoted.

"When you look at our record from the point when he became head coach, we play more together, we share the ball well, we have a couple of new plays we execute well, and we're finally finding our rhythm," Ilyasova said after compiling a season-high 27 points and 14 rebounds Saturday.

Milwaukee, which is 12-4 when Ilyasova scores at least 10 points, was also in a groove during a 105-96 win at Philadelphia (17-24) on Nov. 12. Jennings had 33 points in that game as the Bucks shot 51.3 percent and outrebounded the 76ers 48-31.

Philadelphia doesn't appear primed to return the favor after being handed its 15th loss in 20 games Monday, falling 90-85 to San Antonio. Evan Turner had 18 points, 12 boards and seven assists for the 76ers, who led 82-75 with four minutes to go before coming undone down the stretch.

"As soon as the clock hits 0.0, it's behind us," forward Thaddeus Young said. "Now it's time to face Milwaukee and see what they're about and go into their house and try and get a win."

Victories have been especially difficult to come by on the road, where Philadelphia has dropped four straight and 12 of 14. The 76ers have been outscored by an average of 21.7 points during their last three games in opponents' arenas.

Despite their struggles, the ninth-place 76ers sit just 3 1/2 games behind Boston for the East's eighth and final postseason spot. Coach Doug Collins knows his team needs to significantly pick up the pace if it's going to contend.

"We're very concerned. We are seven games below .500 - you're gonna have to play over .500 basketball to make the playoffs," Collins said. "But we're gonna keep playing every night and see what we can do. ... We've gotta find a way to put some wins together."

Philadelphia has been outscored by an average of 13.0 points while going 0-7 in the second leg of back-to-backs since the start of December.

Ilyasova, Jennings lead Bucks past 76ers, 110-102

Posted Jan 22 2013 11:35PM

MILWAUKEE (AP) Brandon Jennings is trying to take over close games in the fourth quarter.

Jennings was very successful doing that Tuesday night as he scored nine of his 25 points in the final period to lead the Bucks to a 110-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. He also added three assists in the quarter.

Jennings said he wants to be the key player late in games and has been focused on it in recent weeks.

"It is something that I've been working on, especially during the (recent) road trip, just trying to take over games," he said. "I'm just trying to get the best possible shot for the team. That's just me growing and learning."

Ersan Ilyasova also came up big again for Milwaukee as he had 27 points and 16 rebounds. He also had 27 points and 14 rebounds in Milwaukee's 110-104 win Saturday over Portland.

"Ersan gots his groove back," said Monta Ellis, who added 18 points and 10 assists for Milwaukee. "He really has been playing well for the last few games and has given us a big boost."

Bucks coach Jim Boylan credited Ilyasova for being a very active player.

"He has that knack for tipping the ball to himself rebounding and coming up with the basket," he said. "When you look at Ersan, you don't really see a great athlete, but rebounding is just determination. When he's determined to get the ball, he's bound to get it."

Milwaukee has won six of eight games since Boylan replaced former coach Scott Skiles, who parted ways with the team following a season-worst four-game losing streak.

Jennings said the team has had a lot of success under Boylan because he is letting them "just play."

"Everything is going well right now," Jennings said. "We are playing with lots of confidence. This was a big win for us as in the past when we win a few games, we end up losing to a team we should not lose to."

Evan Turner scored 23 points to lead the 76ers, Spencer Hawes added 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Nick Young scored 20 points. Philadelphia lost its fifth straight on the road, and 15th in its last 21 overall.

Young said the 76ers have to figure out a way to win close games.

"Somehow we have to figure it out, come together and stay together as a team," he said. "We know what the problem is. We've been in every game so far and fought back. If we can come out of the gate and get a couple shots to go in, get our blood going a little bit, it'll be a different ball game."

Philadelphia hit just 2 of its first 16 shots, a point not lost on coach Doug Collins.

"First quarter again. We were down 10 so you play uphill the entire game again," he said. "You've got to share the ball, you got to help each other out and you've got to talk on defense. We're not good enough to do it ourselves. We've got to do it collectively."

The Sixers used a 17-7 run to start the fourth quarter, cutting the Bucks' lead to 90-86 when Thaddeus Young stole the ball and scored on a breakaway layup with 6:47 remaining.

Ilyasova made 1 of 2 free throws to extend Milwaukee's lead to 99-92 with 3:56 left. He then hit a jumper with about 2 1/2 minutes to go, stretching the advantage to nine points.

Hawes hit a baseline jumper to trim the lead to 101-94 with 1:39 remaining, but Milwaukee made 4 of 6 free throws in the final minute to seal the win.

Larry Sanders had two blocked shots, giving him at least one in his last 27 games, the second longest streak in the NBA behind Tim Duncan, who has blocked a shot in 29 straight.

NOTES: 76ers guard Royal Ivey made the start in place of Dorell Wright as Collins wanted more speed in his starting lineup to defend Jennings. ... Bucks F Marquis Daniels was sick and inactive for the game. Rookie guard Doron Lamb, who was recalled Monday from the NBA Development League, suffered a sprained ankle and was also inactive. ... 76ers guard Jason Richardson did not travel with the team due to left knee synovitis.

Notebook: Bucks 110, Sixers 102

Rick Braun, for NBA.com
Posted Tue Jan 22, 2013 11:54 PM - Updated Tue Jan 22, 2013 11:54 PM

THE FACTS: Ersan Ilyasova scored 27 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, and Brandon Jennings added 25 points and seven assists as the Milwaukee Bucks coasted to a 110-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

Monta Ellis added 18 points and 10 assists as the Bucks (22-18) improved to 6-2 under new coach Jim Boylan.

Evan Turner led Philadelphia (17-25) with 23 points, Spencer Hawes had 21 points and 12 rebounds and Nick Young scored 20 points, but the Sixers still lost for the 10th time in 13 games.

QUOTABLE: "That's been something I've been working on -- especially during the road trip -- trying to take over games and get the best possible shot for the team. That's just me growing and learning and Jim (Boylan) giving me the ball down the stretch."

-- Jennings, who scored or assisted on 14 of 16 Bucks points during a key stretch of the fourth quarter

THE STAT: The Bucks' starting backcourt of Jennings and Ellis fotaled 43 points, 17 assists and five steals to 17 points, 12 assists one steal for the Sixers' starting guard combo of Jrue Holiday and Royal Ivey.

TURNING POINT: The Bucks had seen a 14-point lead dwindle down to 85-80 when Jennings drilled a step-back 3-pointer with 7:52 left. Beginning with that shot, Jennings scored seven points and dished out three assists -- including Mike Dunleavy's 3-pointer -- to account for 14 of Milwaukee's next 16 points. Jennings completed the run with an assist to Ilyasova, whose jumper made it 101-92 with 2:39 left.

QUOTABLE II: "The way we play on the road, we're a 50-win team. But the way we play at home we're like a 35-win team. That's a little backward, so we've got to get that straightened out with some home wins. Hopefully we can do that."

-- Dunleavy

HOT: Ilyasova made 10 of 17 shots and is now 20-for-31 over his last two games. He had 27 points and 14 rebounds Saturday in a 110-104 victory at Portland.

NOT: Holiday was just 3-for-12 and also had eight turnovers. He was held to nine points -- well under his average of 19.2 points. He did, however, contribute 12 assists.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Jennings is averaging 27.5 points and 7.5 assists over his last two games.

INSIDE THE ARENA: Bobby Dandridge, the starting small forward on the Bucks' 1971 NBA Championship team, was in the house and signing autographs before the game and at halftime. Dandridge was a fourth-round pick in 1969, the same draft in which the Bucks took Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) with the first overall pick. Dandridge became a starter as a rookie and averaged 18.4 points and eight rebounds in his second season in helping the Bucks to the title in just their third year of existence.

GOOD MOVE: When Sixers coach Doug Collins went small in the fourth quarter, Boylan stayed with Ilyasova and was rewarded as the 6-foot-10 forward had five points and five rebounds in the fourth quarter, including a tip-in of a missed free throw with 39.5 seconds left that iced the game.

ROOKIE WATCH: Bucks forward John Henson scored nine points in 11 ½ minutes and showed some nifty moves under the basket.

NOTABLE: Tuesday marked the 45th anniversary of the league's 1968 announcement that Milwaukee would be awarded an NBA franchise. The Bucks began play in the fall of 1968. ... The game was Milwaukee's 3,600th in franchise history. ... Boylan's 6-2 start matches Mike Dunleavy Sr. (1992) and Del Harris (1987) for the best eight-game starts for a Bucks coach. ... Larry Sanders had two blocks to extend his streak to 27 games with at least one blocked shot.

UP NEXT: For the 76ers, Saturday vs. New York, Monday vs. Memphis, Wednesday vs. Washington. For the Bucks, Friday @ Cleveland, Saturday vs. Golden State, Tuesday @ Detroit.

• 76ers: Bynum
• Bucks: Daniels, Lamb

• 76ers: --
• Bucks: --

• Lead Changes: 4
• Times Tied: 0

• Arena: BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
• Officials: #17 Joe Crawford, #33 Sean Corbin, #54 Nick Buchert
• Attendance: 13080
• Duration: 2:06