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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
WASHINGTON (AP) -- When Mitch Richmond made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime, the Milwaukee' Bucks' playoff hopes had suddenly become shaky.
|  | | Ray Allen danced his way to 29 points for the Bucks. |
Five minutes later, the Bucks had pulled out a victory they absolutely had to have.
Sam Cassell scored 34 points, including consecutive baskets at the start of overtime, as the Bucks moved within a half-game of the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot by beating the Washington Wizards 120-116.
Glenn Robinson added 31 points and 11 rebounds and Ray Allen scored 29 points for Milwaukee, which has two games remaining.
"I'm trying to get this team in the playoffs and I know what I've got to do to get us there," Cassell said. "Some nights, it takes me to be scoring. Some nights, I have to take the back seat so Ray and Big Dog can score. But tonight it was my night."
The Bucks play at Orlando, which currently holds the eighth seed, on Monday night and play host to the Wizards, who they've gone 2-1 against, in the season finale Wednesday.
"I said about three or four weeks ago that I had a funny feeling this season was going to come down to another win in Orlando. And that's probably the way it's going to be," Milwaukee coach George Karl said. "A week or two ago, we would have begged
and been happy to get that opportunity."
Juwan Howard and Mitch Richmond each scored 21 points for the Wizards, who didn't trail until 3:34 remained in the fourth quarter.
Allen's 3-pointer with 12.3 seconds left gave the Bucks a 109-105 cushion, and Don Reid scored with 7.5 seconds left to make it 109-107.
Robinson missed a free throw with 5.9 seconds left that could have provided a four-point lead, and Richmond sank a 3-pointer from the right side as time expired in regulation for a 110-110 tie.
Milwaukee took the lead for good on back-to-back baskets by Cassell, a layup and jumper, and outscored Washington 10-6 in overtime.
"We could be sitting in the locker room with a loss under our belt and our playoff hopes in a lot of jeopardy, but we pulled it out." Allen said.
Washington coach Darrell Walker dismissed any talk that his team -- which had won 10 of 14 -- was comfortable playing the spoiler.
"I'm trying to win as many basketball games here as we can. ... I'm not here to help Orlando. I'm not here to help out anybody," Walker said.
Richmond scored 12 points in the first quarter, Washington was 4-for-4 in 3-point attempts and led 37-31 after one period.
Robinson, who had 17 first-half points, knocked down consecutive 3-pointers to start a 10-3 second-quarter run for the Bucks, who trailed 65-58 at halftime.
Cassell scored 12 points in the third quarter, but the Bucks made only three field goals in the final seven minutes. A 9-for-9 effort from the free throw line kept Milwaukee close, and Tim Thomas' three-point play with 18.2 seconds left cut the Wizards' lead to 89-85.
Game notes
Washington's 37 first-quarter points were a season-high,
one better than they scored March 16 against the Los Angeles
Lakers. ... Robinson and Allen were a combined 7-for-9 on 3-point
attempts in the first half. ... When one of the sweepers didn't
adequately wipe moisture off the court in the third quarter, Howard
grabbed the towel-wrapped broom and finished the job himself. ...
Washington hit a season-best 12 3-pointers.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Milwaukee Clubhouse
Washington Clubhouse
RECAPS
Milwaukee 120
Washington 116
Cleveland 106
New York 96
Philadelphia 100
Detroit 94
San Antonio 106
Utah 83
Denver 115
LA Clippers 114
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