[narek]

This could be an incredibly high scoring game.

TEAMS: Bucks (20-35) vs. Denver Nuggets (33-21).

WHEN: 7:30 tonight.

WHERE: Bradley Center.

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

ABOUT THE NUGGETS: Their 33-20 record entering play Friday was tied for the second-best 53-game start in team history. The Nuggets had the same record after 53 games in 1987-'88 and their best start was 34-19 in 1976-'77. This is the seventh time since 1976 they've had at least 30 victories after 53 games. Denver has made the playoffs in 12 of the 13 seasons in which it has had at least 28 victories after 53 games.

LINEUPS
PROBABLE NUGGETS STARTERS

Player Ht. From
G-Anthony Carter 6-2 Hawaii
G-Allen Iverson 6-0 Georgetown
F-Kenyon Martin 6-9 Cincinnati
F-Carmelo Anthony 6-8 Syracuse
C-Marcus Camby 6-11 Massachusetts

Coach: George Karl (fourth season, 154-104; 20th overall, 862-603).

Injury report: Chucky Atkins (sports hernia) and Nene (surgery for testicular tumor) are out. Linas Kleiza (left ankle) is day-to-day.

PROBABLE BUCKS STARTERS

Player Ht. From
G-Mo Williams 6-1 Alabama
G-Michael Redd 6-6 Ohio State
F-Desmond Mason 6-5 Oklahoma State
F-Charlie Villanueva 6-11 Connecticut
C-Andrew Bogut 7-0 Utah

Coach: Larry Krystkowiak (second season, 25-48).

Injury report: Ramon Sessions (left-hand fracture) is out.

PLAYER TO WATCH
CARMELO ANTHONY, Nuggets

He scored 18 points, tied for team high, and had seven rebounds in 22 minutes for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. Anthony (26.3-point average) teams with Allen Iverson (26.5) to form the highest-scoring duo in the league. Anthony is ranked fourth in the league in scoring, right behind Iverson.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=721302

[narek]

Arggggggggg! Charter had a hiccup tonight and lost half of it's channels and FSN was one! A comback from 23 points down and I miss it.

[narek]

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Michael Redd's 42 points were his season high.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Charlie Villanueva sneaked up behind Carmelo Anthony and made a huge steal late in the game that led to a four-point Bucks' lead.

STATISTICS SHEET: Redd made 5 of 9 shots in the first quarter (55%) while the rest of the team made 3 of 19 (15.8%).

OFF THE BENCH: Coach Larry Krystkowiak wanted to go to his bench earlier than he did Friday in Detroit when the starters played the entire first quarter. Against Denver, Dan Gadzuric played 6 minutes, Bobby Simmons 3 minutes and Yi Jianlian 53 seconds in the quarter

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=721456

[narek]

Sailing into second wind

As victories go, this one could go a long way toward brightening what has been a dark season for the Milwaukee Bucks.

After falling behind by 23 points in the second quarter, the Bucks staged a furious second-half rally and defeated the Denver Nuggets, 115-109, Saturday night at the Bradley Center.

These are the same Bucks who have been known to punch out early and call it a night in games like this. But not this time.

Big victory? Very big for a team that is struggling to gain some respectability.

"We played with a lot of energy," said guard Mo Williams, who scored 20 of his 26 points in the second half. "We played with a lot of confidence. This is very uplifting. Down 23 and coming back to get a win says a lot. . . against one of the better teams in the league."

Said forward Desmond Mason, "Tonight, a lot of teams would have been discouraged when they got some boos. We had the boo-birds come out early. But amongst ourselves we said that we were going to continue to play basketball and that's what we did."

Michael Redd made 14 of 28 shots and 11 of 14 free throws to lead Milwaukee with a season-high 42 points. Williams scored 14 points in leading a third-quarter rally that got the Bucks back into the game.

Center Andrew Bogut was all over the boards, finishing with 20 rebounds while leading the Bucks to a decisive edge on the glass.

"They were doubling Mike and their rotations weren't really to box out," said Bogut. "So I got a couple offensive boards and I got going."