Redd scores 26 as Bucks beat Lakers
Updated: 2007-11-22 15:07
MILWAUKEE - Michael Redd scored 26 points and helped hold Kobe Bryant in check as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Los Angeles Lakers 110-103 Wednesday night for their fourth straight victory.
 Milwaukee Bucks center Yi Jianlian of China fouls Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom as he goes up for a shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007, in Milwaukee. [Agencies] |
The Bucks held Bryant to a relatively quiet 27 points on 7-of-18 shooting, including only six points in the fourth quarter.
After a slow start, Bryant scored 15 points in the third, ending the quarter with a 3-pointer and two free throws to give the Lakers an 80-75 lead going into the final period.
Milwaukee opened the fourth quarter with a 13-3 run, taking an 88-83 lead on Redd's layup with 6:48 remaining.
The Bucks then stamped out a potential Lakers rally with good outside shooting down the stretch, getting 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions from Bobby Simmons and Charlie Villanueva, and a jumper by Mo Williams to go up 101-93 lead with 2:43 left.
The Lakers pulled to within four on a layup by Luke Walton with 54 seconds left. Williams hit a pair of free throws on the other end, but Villanueva fouled Walton, who hit two free throws to cut the Bucks' lead to make it 103-99 with 36 seconds left.
After Villanueva hit two free throws, Bryant missed a 3-pointer. Bryant's dunk with 12 seconds left was his only field goal of the fourth quarter.
Williams added 18 points for Milwaukee.
The Bucks had won three straight coming into Wednesday's game, including a 111-107 victory at Cleveland Tuesday night for their first road.
Andrew Bynum added 16 points as the Lakers four-game winning streak came to an end.
It's the second in a series of three major tests for Milwaukee's often-maligned defense. Milwaukee beat Cleveland on Tuesday despite 34 points from LeBron James. After facing Bryant on Wednesday, they'll have to defend the Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki on Saturday.
Bryant had only six points at halftime. Even surprising, he took only five shots in the half.
The Bucks held Bryant scoreless through much of the first quarter, until the Lakers' superstar hit a pair of free throws with 3:42 left.
Lamar Odom stole the ball on the Bucks' next possession and threw a long outlet pass to Bryant, who finished with an emphatic one-handed slam to put the Lakers ahead 20-12.
Bryant began to assert himself right away in the second half, opening with a jump shot. Bryant also picked up a technical foul midway through the quarter after he was called for carrying the ball.
Milwaukee center Andrew Bogut, who was coming off back-to-back double-doubles, was held to 13 points after getting into early foul trouble. He fouled out late in the fourth.
Rookie Yi Jianlian added 12 points for Milwaukee.
|
|
|
||
|
||
|
|
|
|