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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Glenn Robinson was missing, but Ray Allen
wasn't.
Allen had 29 points, making six 3-pointers, as the Milwaukee
Bucks beat the Vancouver Grizzlies 93-81 Friday night.
Robinson, the team's leading scorer, was serving a one-game
suspension for his part in an altercation with the Bulls' Ron
Artest on Tuesday night.
Allen's efforts and 18 points from Sam Cassell, including three
consecutive baskets down the stretch, more than made up for
Robinson's 22.2 points per game.
"He definitely is the difference for us," Allen said. "Glenn
is a consistent 20-point score. When you need a basket, we have
plays when you go right to him."
The Bucks struggled in the first three quarters despite leading
at the end of each period. Allen attributed part of it to
Robinson's absence.
"It's tough trying to figure it out," Allen said. "It's tough
having a starter, an All-Star, out of the game."
Tim Thomas started in Robinson's absence and finished with 10
points and eight rebounds, but only made one of seven shots in the
first.
"We knew we had enough talent, even though Glenn wasn't here,
to pull out the game," Thomas said.
Mike Bibby scored 28 points on 11-for-15 shooting and hit four
3-pointers and Shareef Abdur-Rahim added 22 for the Grizzlies who
came into Milwaukee having won five of the last six games.
Bibby and Abdur-Rahim each had 15 points in the first half and
kept Vancouver close. The Bucks never led by more than seven
points.
Allen hit three 3-pointers in third as the Bucks looked liked
they would finally pull away, but Bibby answered with 11 points,
including a jumper that cut the Bucks' lead to 68-66 with 2:32 left
in the period.
In the fourth, Erick Strickland, who finished with 12 points,
hit two 3-pointers and a short jumper as the Grizzlies closed
within 75-74 with 10:52 left in the fourth.
After Lindsey Hunter, who had 16 points, made a layup, Tony
Massenburg made it a one-point game again for Vancouver, but
Cassell wouldn't let them get closer as he connected three times
during a 9-0 run that gave Milwaukee an 86-76 lead with 5:28 left.
Vancouver scored five points in the final five minutes to help
Milwaukee improve its home record to 21-8, the best in the Eastern
Conference.
Abdur-Rahim made a technical and jumper and Bibby hit a jumper
to close out the Grizzlies' scoring.
"We didn't hit shots down the stretch and that hurt us," Bibby
said.
Vancouver was without their coach Sidney Lowe.
"The flu hit him pretty hard the last few days," assistant
coach Bob Staak said. "They took him to the hospital to get some
fluids, but he'll be all right."
Allen started an 18-4 run that spanned the second and third
quarters with a 3-pointer and then capped it with another 3. The
outburst gave Milwaukee a 63-49 lead with 8:29 left in the third.
Game notes
Vancouver's Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf missed the game due to
illness. ... Bibby had 15 points in the first half, one less than
he had in the game on Jan. 7. ... Thomas had four points in the
first half for Milwaukee. ... Vancouver lost to Philadelphia two
days ago which snapped a team-record five-game winning streak. ...
The Bucks had 38 points in the paint to the Grizzlies' 18.
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NBA Scoreboard
Vancouver Clubhouse
Milwaukee Clubhouse
RECAPS
Sacramento 119
Toronto 118
Indiana 92
Cleveland 90
Phoenix 88
New York 84
Philadelphia 99
Detroit 78
Minnesota 122
Golden State 83
Houston 105
Orlando 95
Milwaukee 93
Vancouver 81
San Antonio 100
Boston 82
Utah 96
Seattle 84
LA Lakers 113
Atlanta 106
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