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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MILWAUKEE (AP) _ Not long ago, when the offensive-minded
Milwaukee Bucks had a bad night shooting, they were doomed.
Now, they at least have a shot at winning even when their shots
aren't falling.
Ray Allen scored 25 points and had a career-high six of
Milwaukee's 17 steals as the Bucks beat the revamped Cleveland
Cavaliers 88-83 despite awful shooting Wednesday night.
The Bucks won for the 15th time in 19 games, their best stretch
since starting out the 1990-91 season 25-8. But it was ugly.
They shot just 35 percent, including 24-of-70 from their
starting five, and had to make up for it from the foul line
(20-of-24) and on defense.
"That's what good teams do, figure out a way to win," said
Lindsey Hunter, who was 2-of-11. "Good teams win even when they
don't shoot so well."
And sometimes even when their shooting is downright dreadful.
"We played good defense," said Glenn Robinson, who missed 14
of 17 shots. "We made some stops, and we went to the line a good
amount of times. I guess you could say it was a defensive game for
us."
The Cavaliers shot 47 percent but made just 14 trips to the foul
line and had just four steals.
Robinson's two free throws with 20 seconds left gave Milwaukee
an 87-83 lead. Cleveland couldn't score and Chris Mihm fouled
Allen, who sank one of two foul shots with 7 seconds left for the
final margin.
Cleveland lost for the seventh time in eight games despite a
season-high 18 points and 15 rebounds from Mihm, 18 points from
Chris Gatling and 17 from Lamond Murray.
Jim Jackson, acquired Tuesday in a four-player trade with
Atlanta, scored seven points and had six turnovers in 34 minutes
off the bench.
With only a shootaround of practice time, Jackson looked lost at
times in the Cavaliers' offense, but he had his moments.
He brought Cleveland to 69-65 just before the third quarter
buzzer with a leaning jumper, and his free throw on a technical
with 4:15 left sparked a run that pulled the Cavs to 83-81 with
2:50 remaining.
But Sam Cassell (16 points) sank a layup after splitting four
defenders for an 85-81 lead with 1:42 remaining. Mihm's basket made
it 85-83.
Gatling torched his former team for 14 points in the first half
as the Cavaliers built a nine-point lead in the second quarter
before settling for a 47-43 halftime edge.
Cleveland acquired Jackson and two guards in a trade with
Atlanta for Brevin Knight, who lost his starting job to Andre
Miller. Jackson, who has averaged 17.4 points during his nine-year
career, figures to give the banged-up Cavs some much-needed scoring
punch at shooting guard and small forward.
But he was basically freelancing in his debut.
"When you're in a new situation, it's not as second nature as
it is normally because you're not used to the system," Jackson
said.
But his teammates weren't concerned.
"I'm not worried about Jimmy," Gatling said. "He's a
professional. He's been here nine years. He knows how to win and he
knows what to do, he knows how to play."
Notes: The Cavs are Jackson's seventh team. The Toledo native and
former Ohio State star said he's looking forward to a fresh start
in his home state. ... Bucks coach George Karl said he spoke with
his good friend Rick Majerus, who had a heart operation Tuesday.
Karl said he and Majerus talked about going on a weight loss
program together next summer.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Cleveland Clubhouse
Milwaukee Clubhouse
RECAPS
New York 100
Boston 91
Philadelphia 98
Atlanta 80
Detroit 107
Dallas 104
Milwaukee 88
Cleveland 83
Phoenix 90
LA Clippers 85
Portland 102
Indiana 86
Vancouver 99
Charlotte 89
Denver 111
Golden State 100
LA Lakers 82
Utah 71
AUDIO/VIDEO
 The Bucks' Ray Allen gets the baseline jam for 2 of his 25 points.
avi: 374 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
George Karl Official Site
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