Andrew Bogut had 17 points and 10
rebounds, as the Milwaukee Bucks took an 87-72 decision from the Minnesota
Timberwolves.
Luke Ridnour was an efficient 6-of-9 from the field, including a pair of
three-point shots, totaling 16 points for the Bucks, who were coming off a
narrow loss to the Bulls on Tuesday.
Hakim Warrick helped ignite a second-half charge and finished with 12 points
and seven rebounds, while rookie point guard Brandon Jennings was 4-of-16 from
the field for nine points. He also accumulated six boards and three assists.
The game featured two of the top rookie point guards taken in June's draft, as
Jonny Flynn notched a game-high 20 points for Minnesota, which has lost five
straight since winning its season opener.
"We weren't hitting shots tonight. There is going to be nights like that,"
said Flynn. "I think the defense has to step up, that let us down tonight."
Corey Brewer had 13 points and was the only other T'Wolves player in double
figures. Al Jefferson registered eight points and as many boards in the
setback as the hosts doomed themselves with a poor 39.2 percent shooting
effort.
Milwaukee took control in the early stages of the second half, turning a
five-point halftime deficit into a three-point lead just four minutes into
the third.
A Jennings three-pointer sparked what eventually became a 15-3 run. After
Warrick turned a dunk into a three-point play, Bogut's tip-in at the eight-
minute mark provided a 44-41 Bucks lead.
Brewer interrupted the surge with a three-pointer, but Warrick again got to
the rim for consecutive slams, then hit a jumper to run the margin to 50-44.
Brewer came through again on the other end, driving the lane for two, but a
Carlos Delfino three-pointer erased the bucket. Milwaukee finished the quarter
on a 9-2 run and carried a 12-point advantage, 64-52, into the fourth.
The Bucks continued to surge early in the fourth, stretching their lead to 16
points on a Luc Mbah a Moute dunk. A three-pointer by Ridnour just before the
midway point of the fourth had the visitors ahead by 17, 77-60, and Milwaukee
cruised to victory from there.
"We played good defense all four games, we just haven't scored a lot of
points," Ridnour said of the Bucks' 2-2 record thus far. "We'll just keep
working at it and get better."
The Timberwolves jumped out to a 24-16 lead after the opening 12 minutes and
held the advantage, 38-33, at the break following a rather poorly played
second frame on both sides of the ball.
Game Notes
Milwaukee remains without its top scoring threat, guard Michael Redd, who will
miss at least two weeks after experiencing soreness in his surgically-repaired
left knee. Redd, who underwent surgery last March to repair a torn anterior
cruciate ligament, left Saturday's game against Detroit during the third
quarter with discomfort...Minnesota had won three straight against Milwaukee
and nine of the last 10 in the series at Target Center...Ryan Gomes also ended
with eight points for Minnesota, which committed 22 turnovers. The Bucks
weren't much better in taking care of the ball, finishing with 20.
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