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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The Knicks' record-setting defensive streak
fell victim to Milwaukee's long-range shooting.
|  | | Sam Cassell scored 22 points to help the Bucks snap their seven-game losing streak against the Knicks. |
Sam Cassell had 22 points and the Bucks hit a franchise record
14 3-pointers Tuesday night to beat the Knicks 105-91 and snap New
York's NBA-record 33-game streak of holding their opponent under
100 points.
Glenn Robinson had 21 and six assists and Hunter and Ray Allen
added 19 points apiece as the Bucks won their eighth straight for
the first time since the 1990-91 season.
Lindsey Hunter's five 3-pointers and four from Allen helped
Milwaukee snap a seven-game losing streak against the Knicks and
move past New York for the second-best record in the Eastern
Conference behind Philadelphia.
"We weren't too concerned about that," Hunter said about the
Knicks' 33-game defensive mastery. "We wanted them to notice that
we weren't a team they could dominate."
The Knicks were without Marcus Camby, who sat out the third of
his five-game suspension for throwing a punch at San Antonio's
Danny Ferry on Jan. 15. However, there were no excuses coming from
the New York lockerroom.
"We did not play defense like we're capable of playing," said
Latrell Sprewell who had 21 points and six rebounds for New York.
The Knicks entered the game holding the opposition to 83.7
points, but the Bucks had 82 by the end of the third.
Allan Houston added 21 points, Glen Rice had 16 and Charlie Ward
13, but it wasn't enough as Milwaukee snapped the Knicks' five-game
road winning streak.
"Tonight we gave up too many open shots," Knicks coach Jeff
Van Gundy said after the Bucks shot 48.4 percent (40-of-82) from
the floor. "We played bad defense, and they did a great job."
Cassell's 3-pointer, the 14th in the game for Milwaukee, gave
the Bucks a 99-83 lead with 4:25 to go. After a Knicks' timeout,
Hunter stole the ball from Sprewell and hit a 20-foot jumper that
ended the Knicks' 33-game run.
Sprewell had the Knicks' first seven points in the fourth to
pull New York to 84-77, but Hunter wouldn't let the Bucks blow
their lead as they had done in five of the last six New York
victories. His 3-pointer with 9:49 left stopped the surge.
"They had our number and we had to let them know that, if we do
meet (in the playoffs), it's going to be a battle," Hunter said.
The Knicks never got closer than 11 after Robinson's basket made
it 94-83 with 5:45 left.
Sprewell's free throw pulled the Knicks to 70-64 with 4:49 left
in the third, but the Bucks pulled away with a 12-6 run on a
3-pointers from Tim Thomas and Allen and four points from Robinson
to regain a double-digit lead heading into the fourth.
Thomas' 3-pointer late in the second gave Milwaukee a 58-47
margin. His shot and four 3-pointers from Hunter helped the Bucks
pass the season-high 55 points the Knicks had allowed in the first
half in a 94-85 loss at Dallas.
Rice had six points in a 14-6 run late in the second as the
Knicks trimmed a 17-point deficit to 58-49 at the half. The Bucks
helped by missing eight of their last 10 shots to close the
quarter.
Game notes
The Bucks scored 31 points in the first quarter. ...
Sprewell, who averaged 13 points in the first two games against the
Bucks, had 12 in the first. ... The Knicks Luc Longley missed the
game due to a stomach virus. ... The Bucks' seven-game losing
streak was the club's longest against any opponent. ... The Knicks
already own the tie-breaker, having beaten the Bucks twice in the
three-game series. ... Attendance was 18,717, the Bucks' fourth
sellout of the season. The club had three last year, excluding the
playoffs.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
New York Clubhouse
Milwaukee Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 83
Atlanta 82
Washington 97
Charlotte 95
Orlando 116
Toronto 111
Philadelphia 114
Dallas 98
Milwaukee 105
New York 91
Minnesota 82
Phoenix 73
Seattle 91
LA Lakers 80
Portland 104
Chicago 100
San Antonio 110
Vancouver 77
Denver 105
Houston 100
Utah 100
Golden State 78
Sacramento 130
New Jersey 104
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
George Karl Official Site
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