Michael Redd scored 28 points to lead five Bucks
in double figures, and Milwaukee used a big first half to surge past
the depleted Denver Nuggets 119-108 in a pre-season game Saturday
night.
Redd had 19 points before halftime as the Bucks (3-3) scored 76
points in the first half _ 40 in the second quarter.
The first-half output topped the Bucks' 2005-06 season high for
points in a half (74) and helped Milwaukee shake off a dreadful loss
to the Dallas Mavericks. The Bucks scored just four points in the
third quarter Thursday and fell 88-71.
Denver (2-2) was without three of its stars, including Carmelo
Anthony, who missed his second straight game due to a wisdom tooth
extraction. Marcus Camby missed his second straight game with a
strained left foot, and Kenyon Martin did not play after leaving the
game against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday with a left quadriceps
contusion.
All three travelled with the team and are listed as day-to-day.
Milwaukee remained without starters Andrew Bogut (lower left leg
sprain) and Bobby Simmons (right heel stress reaction). Neither is
expected back soon.
Denver, which entered play averaging 115.7 points in the
pre-season, got no closer than five points in the second half. The
Nuggets had 23 turnovers.
Linas Kleiza led Denver with 23 points and eight rebounds in 36
minutes, and reserve Earl Boykins had 18 points and seven assists.
Joe Smith, traded to the Nuggets in the deal that brought Ruben
Patterson to Milwaukee, had 15 points.
However, Smith left the game in the third quarter after
lacerating his right eyelid while fouling Patterson on a layup
attempt. He needed stitches and did not return.
Andre Miller added 15 points for Denver.
Patterson had 19 points for Milwaukee and Steve Blake added 16,
including 13 in the first quarter on 6-of-8 shooting. Blake played
24 minutes off the bench, with Charlie Bell, also vying for minutes
at point guard, out due to left foot pain. Bell is listed as
day-to-day.
Maurice Williams, the top replacement for the departed T.J. Ford,
returned to the starting lineup after missing the last two contests
with a sprained right thumb. He had 10 points.
Denver had won 15 of 17 pre-season games and is still 16-4 in the
pre-season since 2004.
