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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MILWAUKEE (AP) – Tim Thomas helped make up for the absence of
Sam Cassell. The Philadelphia 76ers didn't have anyone who covered
for the loss of Allen Iverson.
|  | | Tim Thomas came off the bench for the Bucks and scored 22 points against the 76ers, his former team. |
Thomas scored 22 points, including nine in the fourth quarter,
to spark the Bucks to an 87-78 victory over the 76ers on Staruday
night.
Ray Allen had 20 points and 10 assists and Glenn Robinson added
20 points as the Bucks spoiled the 76ers' start of a four-game
trip. Lindsey Hunter started for the injured Cassell, who was out
with a hip injury suffered in the home loss to Seattle on Thursday
night.
Philadelphia, with the NBA's best road record, has lost two in a
row. This one happened with Philadelphia's coach and best player
absent.
76ers coach Larry Brown, 60, is scheduled to miss the first two
games of the trip to undergo medical tests. He is suffering from
acid reflux and a hiatal hernia, disorders of the stomach and
esophagus.
Iverson, who played in the loss to Sacramento on Friday night
after missing one game with a left hip pointer, remained in
Philadelphia to get treatment for the injury.
"Allen's obviously a big part of this team, but this group has
been very good at facing adversity all year," Randy Ayers, the
76ers acting coach said. "We tried to step it up tonight, but we
just couldn't get the job done."
Aaron McKie had 23 points and 10 assists starting in place of
Iverson and Tyrone Hill added 13 points and 10 rebounds, but the
76ers couldn't stop Thomas in the fourth.
It also helped that the Bucks forced the 76ers into shooting
37.5 percent during the fourth.
"We played a very strong defensive game, especially in the
second half," Bucks coach George Karl said. "That's usually
Philadelphia's formula to be successful. But tonight we did our
job."
Karl was disappointed with his team's lack of defensive effort
in the loss to Seattle two days earlier. Then he had to face the
unknown impact of what Cassell's absence would mean to a team that
had lost five of nine games since beating the Sixers on Jan. 26 in
Philadelphia.
"Without Sam, we knew it was going to be a tight game, a
fourth-quarter game," Karl said.
There were nine lead changes before the Bucks went ahead for the
last time on 3-pointer by Allen late in the third. The Bucks didn't
finally put the Sixers away until Thomas stepped up in the final
period.
He started the fourth with a free throw, a jump shot and a layup
which increased a slim lead to seven. The 76ers refused to fold and
pulled to 75-74 on Eric Snow's basket with 5:12 left.
Robinson hit a 3-pointer to stop Philadelphia's last charge.
Then Thomas helped seal the victory when he put in a missed
3-pointer by Allen with 3:45 left.
Ayers said the Bucks simply outhustled his team.
"They beat us to loose balls and had more second chance
opportunities," he said.
The Bucks got a lift from Rafer Alston, who took over at times
for Hunter who was less than 100 percent with a thigh bruise
suffered Tuesday night at Toronto.
"You have to give Rafer a lot of credit," Karl said. "He
played a very professional, big-time game. He played well
defensively on their points."
Alston had four points and tied his season-high with eight
assists.
McKie scored the last nine points of the second quarter as the
76ers, who led by 14 in the first, regained the lead 43-41 at the
half.
Game notes
The Bucks made just two of their first 13 shots and finished
8-of-21 from the floor in the first quarter. ... The Bucks are 1-3
without Cassell. Lindsey Hunter started three of the four in place
of Cassell. ... It was announced as the ninth sellout and seventh
since Jan. 13 for the Bucks, who had just three last season.
However, seats were vacant in the upper bowl. ... The 76ers are 3-1
this season without Iverson. ... The Bucks are 2-1 in the four-game
series. Previously, each had won on the other's homecourt. ...
Bucks forward Jason Caffey bruised his right forearm in the first
quarter and did not return.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Philadelphia Clubhouse
Milwaukee Clubhouse
Sixers will be without Brown, Iverson for part of road trip
RECAPS
Detroit 106
Atlanta 90
Charlotte 95
Washington 93
Miami 95
Vancouver 81
New York 101
Chicago 80
Dallas 109
Phoenix 99
Houston 103
San Antonio 99
Milwaukee 87
Philadelphia 78
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Tim Thomas gets it back from Rafer Alston for a score.
avi: 417 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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