12-16-2007, 06:12 AM
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#2 (permalink)
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Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 5,515
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Re: Game Thread, Wolves vs Bucks, FSN 7:30 pm
Yikes, a win, but one they almost blew. I didn't get to see much of this game, but it sounds like Yi had a very good game. Not sure what's up with only 4 points from the bench though. That's not good.
Quote:
The Milwaukee Bucks' 95-92 victory over the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night at the Bradley Center will definitely be filed away under the "grind-it-out" category.
But you know what? The Bucks will take it.
Despite having the worst record in the National Basketball Association, the Timberwolves gave Milwaukee all it could handle before the Bucks hit a couple of big shots in the closing minutes to hold off a late Minnesota rally and secure their second victory in their last three games.
"It certainly wasn't pretty," Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "They had a couple formidable post players and had a lot of points in the paint. Between (Craig) Smith and (Al) Jefferson, I thought those guys were a load inside.
"A 40-point first half kind of kept us in the game. . . . It was a kind of a slugfest for us to score. The defense wasn't fantastic, but it was enough to keep us in the game. Any time you can win a game shooting 42%, I think you're doing pretty well."
The Timberwolves led by two at halftime, but after the Bucks limited them to 31.6% shooting in the third quarter, the Bucks took an eight-point lead into the fourth. Three-point baskets by Michael Redd and Mo Williams helped Milwaukee extend its lead to 80-68 with 4 minutes 35 seconds left, but Minnesota didn't go away.
The Timberwolves rallied to cut the Bucks' lead to two before rookie Yi Jianlian hit a clutch jumper to give Milwaukee an 86-82 lead with 1:23 left. After two free throws by Smith, Williams delivered a three-pointer with 30 seconds left that slammed the door on Minnesota.
"They hit some threes," Krystkowiak said, referring to Minnesota's late rally. "They did a nice job of opening the floor and making shots they hadn't been making for the first there quarters. It was really solid (defense) for the first three quarters. . . Our (defensive) field-goal percentage was 40%. We were right where we wanted to be. But then they scored 34 points in the fourth quarter. . . six of those were in the last 30 seconds, so it is a little bit skewed. But we did enough to win
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Redd's 32 help stop lowly Minnesota |
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