[narek]

Teams: Bucks (16-26) vs. Indiana Pacers (19-24).

When: 7 tonight.

Where: Bradley Center.

Broadcasts: TV - None. Radio - AM-620.

About the Pacers: It's the third of four straight road games for Indiana. The Pacers are the highest-scoring team in the Eastern Conference (103.8 points per game) and made a season-high 14 three-point baskets in a victory at Philadelphia on Monday, but coach Jim O'Brien says the team has taken some steps backward defensively. O'Brien has gone to "small ball" in the absence of the injured Jermaine O'Neal.

PLAYER TO WATCH
KAREEM RUSH, Pacers

Rush has flourished in the small-ball attack, averaging 22 points on 59% shooting in the three games before the one Wednesday in Chicago. Rush has been free to get up and down the floor and hoist up three-pointers, which he says suits him just fine. In Monday's victory over Philadelphia, he sank 5 three-pointers and scored a season-high 25 points.


LINEUPS
PROBABLE PACERS STARTERS

Player Ht. From
G-Jamaal Tinsley 6-3 Iowa State
G-Kareem Rush 6-6 Missouri
F-Danny Granger 6-9 New Mexico
F-Mike Dunleavy 6-9 Duke
C-Troy Murphy 6-11 Notre Dame

Coach: Jim O'Brien (first season; sixth overall, 201-181).

Injury report: Jermaine O'Neal (left knee) is out. Travis Diener (right foot) and Troy Murphy (left knee) are questionable.

Player Ht. From
G-Mo Williams 6-1 Alabama
G-Michael Redd 6-6 Ohio State
F-Bobby Simmons 6-6 DePaul
F-Yi Jianlian 7-0 China
C-Andrew Bogut 7-0 Utah

Coach: Larry Krystkowiak (second season, 21-39).

Injury report: Desmond Mason (left thumb) is out.

THE SERIES
The Pacers are the only team the Bucks have not yet played this season. The Bucks lost all four games to Indiana last season.

NUMBERS GAME
105.1 Points per game that the Pacers allow, more than any team except Golden State (107.1).

44.3% The Pacers' defensive field-goal percentage, sixth-best in the league.

31.8 Free-throw attempts per game allowed by the Pacers, more than any team in the league

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=710745

Pacers lost to the Bulls tonight, so they may be a litte tired tomorrow.

[narek]

The Bucks win! Big game from Mike, with contributions from Bogut, Simmons, and Charlie Bell scored one more point than Mo Williams. Plus Royal Ivey made some assets, unlike the last game.

The Milwaukee Bucks broke open a close game in the fourth quarter and defeated the Indiana Pacers, 104-92, Thursday night at the Bradley Center.
Michael Redd led the Bucks with 37 points while Mike Dunleavy led Indiana with 22 points.

The game was tied after one quarter, 32-32. Redd made five-of-eight shots and scored 12 points for the Bucks who made 5 three-point baskets and shot 52%. The Pacers shot 61.1% but turned the ball over five times.

Both teams cooled off in the second quarter and the Bucks led at halftime, 52-50. With the Bucks missing five straight shots and turning the ball over twice, the Pacers scored nine straight points to take a 46-41 lead late in the second quarter. But a three-pointer and four free throws by Redd helped put the Bucks in front at halftime. Redd scored 23 points in the first half.

A pair of three-pointers and a jumper by Dunleavy gave Indiana a 69-65 lead midway through the third quarter. But the Bucks regained the lead, 71-69, after a jumper by Redd and two dunks by center Andrew Bogut. The Bucks led after three quarters, 74-73. The Pacers made one of their final nine shots.

Cold Indiana shooting and three turnovers helped the Bucks score 13 straight points and open an 87-75 lead early in the fourth quarter. Redd, Royal Ivey, and Charlie Bell all made three-pointers during that Milwaukee surge. Indiana got no closer than six after that.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=711078

So why couldn't this one be on TV?

[narek]

PLAYER OF THE GAME: A free-spirited Michael Redd led the Bucks with 37 points, five rebounds and five assists. "Let's go play," said Redd, describing the mind-set for the game. "No thinking. You know . . . play basketball. And that's what we did tonight. Play freely. That's all I can say. The gloves are off. Time to win games."

PLAY OF THE GAME: The Pacers had cut an 11-point Bucks lead to six but, coming out of a timeout, Redd sank a three-pointer to give Milwaukee a 91-82 lead with 5 minutes 40 seconds left.

STATISTICS SHEET: The Bucks, a team that often has been plagued by turnovers, coughed up the ball only 10 times. "I think Mo (Williams) wants to get everyone involved," coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "We're trying to get Andrew (Bogut) involved. Sometimes that's a cause for all those turnovers. You try to make an extra pass when we really probably should take an open shot. We have a lot of good shooters on our team and we need to think about that more."

OFF THE BENCH: There were a lot of contributions off the Milwaukee bench: 10 points from Charlie Bell, seven rebounds from Michael Ruffin, four points, four rebounds and three assists from Charlie Villanueva and five points and five assists from Royal Ivey.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=711135