[narek]

TEAMS: Milwaukee Bucks (9-13) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (3-18).

WHEN:7:30 tonight.

WHERE:Bradley Center.

BROADCASTS:TV - FSN Wisconsin cable. Radio - AM-620.

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES: Minnesota has lost some close ones this season. Six times it has gone down after being tied or ahead after three quarters. It is shooting 36% in the fourth quarter this season. The Timberwolves are 1-9 on the road, with their lone victory coming at New Orleans. Their most impressive victory was a 100-93 decision over Phoenix one week ago.

PLAYER TO WATCH

COREY BREWER, Timberwolves

The lanky rookie from Florida pulled down 18 rebounds Dec. 6 in Minnesota's 90-89 loss at Atlanta, just two rebounds shy of the franchise rookie record set by Dean Garrett in 1997. Brewer was selected with the seventh overall pick in the June draft, one slot after the Bucks took China's Yi Jianlian.

LINEUPS

PROBABLE T-WOLVES STARTERS


Player Ht. From
G-Marko Jaric 6-7 Serbia
G-Sebastian Telfair 6-0 Brooklyn, N.Y.
F-Corey Brewer 6-9 Florida
F-Craig Smith 6-7 Boston College
C-Al Jefferson 6-10 Prentiss, Miss.

Coach: Randy Wittman (second season, 15-48; fourth overall, 77-150).

Injury report: Greg Buckner (strained right calf) is doubtful. Randy Foye (stress reaction left patella) and Theo Ratliff (sore right knee) are out.

PROBABLE BUCKS STARTERS


Player Ht. From
G-Mo Williams 6-1 Alabama
G-Michael Redd 6-6 Ohio State
F-Yi Jianlian 7-0 China
F-Desmond Mason 6-5 Oklahoma State
C-Andrew Bogut 7-0 Utah

Coach: Larry Krystkowiak (second season, 14-26).

Injury report: Michael Ruffin (fractured left wrist) and David Noel (right wrist sprain) are out.

THE SERIES
Milwaukee swept both games a season ago and has won four of the last six. Minnesota leads the all-time series, 21-14.

NUMBERS GAME
2 Timberwolves players to surpass 30 points and 20 rebounds in a game: Jefferson and Garnett.

28.5 Redd's scoring average against Minnesota last season.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=697057

A good team to meet after playing the Celtics.

[narek]

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.

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

Redd's 32 help stop lowly Minnesota

[narek]

Yi bounces back with 22-point night

Yi Jianlian had a night to forget in Boston on Friday, when he committed six turnovers in the Bucks' 104-82 loss to the Celtics.

But the young power forward showed his ability to bounce back on Saturday night, as he scored his top total of the season with 22 points in Milwaukee's 95-92 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Yi also made some huge plays in crunch time, after the Timberwolves had quickly trimmed a 12-point deficit to just two points. The 7-foot rookie sank a 20-foot jumper off an assist from Mo Williams, giving the Bucks an 86-82 lead with 1:23 remaining.

Yi converted a dunk and two free throws in the final 16 seconds as the Bucks held off Minnesota to improve their home record to 8-2.

"It was good," Yi said. "I had a few important baskets at the end, and I hustled back on fast breaks."

Bucks guard Michael Redd was delighted to see Yi make such a huge contribution at the end of the game.

"It's huge for his confidence," Redd said. "You're going to have your ups and your downs as a rookie. The important thing for us is to encourage him. This is normal as a rookie.

"But when he has his ups, he has his ups, man. I was very impressed with the way he came back tonight, very aggressive, dunking the basketball, shooting the basketball. He's going to get open looks."

[narek]

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Rookie Yi Jianlian played 38 minutes, made 9 of 14 shots - including a big jumper late in the game - and scored a season-high 22 points.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Guard Mo Williams delivered the dagger, sinking a three-pointer that gave Milwaukee an 89-84 lead with 30 seconds left.

OFF THE BENCH:Ryan Gomes, a 6-foot-7 forward, came off the bench in the second quarter and scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting to spark Minnesota to a 42-40 halftime lead. He scored Minnesota's first 10 points of the quarter.

STATISTICS SHEET: The Bucks got four points on a combined 1-of-15 shooting from the bench. Charlie Bell made 1 of 8 shots. The other two points came on free throws by center Jake Voskuhl.

Saturday game report

[roux2dope]

Yi looked great, and Redd needs to keep doing what hes doing, teams are doubling him and instead of throwing up horrible shots he is looking for teammates, 9 assists again last night. Good win, although Minnesota really exposed how weak our interior defense is.

[narek]

Originally Posted by roux2dope

Yi looked great, and Redd needs to keep doing what hes doing, teams are doubling him and instead of throwing up horrible shots he is looking for teammates, 9 assists again last night. Good win, although Minnesota really exposed how weak our interior defense is.

I did see Al Jefferson abusing Bogut a couple of times, and Johnny Mac made it sound like that had been the norm. Lets hope Ruffin's return helps that out a little. I do miss Brian Skinner at times. He was good at dealing with some of the centers Bogut can't cope with.