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Tuesday, Jan. 4 8:00pm ET
Robinson blisters Hawks for 36 points | |||||
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BOX SCORE
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Isaiah Rider, his indefinite suspension over, was back on the court. Unfortunately for the Atlanta Hawks, Glenn Robinson owns this particular court. Robinson blistered the Hawks for 36 points, including 24 on 11-of-12 shooting in the second half, as the Milwaukee Bucks came from behind to beat Atlanta 116-113 Tuesday night.
The Hawks led most of the night thanks to impressive shooting by Jim Jackson and Bimbo Coles, but Robinson's hot streak was too much. Milwaukee also turned up its defensive pressure in the final 90 seconds, scoring the game's last six points while forcing five misses and two turnovers by Atlanta. "Glenn Robinson put on one of the all-time NBA exhibitions tonight," said Hawks assistant coach Stan Albeck, who filled in for coach Lenny Wilkens, who had the flu. "We didn't want to double-team him and leave guys open. The gamble didn't pay off." Rider capped his return to the Hawks' starting lineup after a one-game suspension by missing a 3-pointer with three seconds left. Robinson hit consecutive jumpers in the final minute. "Glenn Robinson might be the best jump-shooter in the league," Milwaukee coach George Karl said. "Glenn might just be the best I've ever seen." Rider's indefinite suspension for missing a team flight to Detroit and a shootaround last week lasted only one game, as GM Pete Babcock said it would if Rider apologized to his teammates. Rider made no direct comments on his suspension, instead making oblique references to past disciplinary problems. "Certain players say it, it's OK," he said. "I say it, it's not OK." Wilkens returned to Atlanta earlier in the day with flu-like symptoms, and Albeck had Rider in the starting lineup. Rider had 17 points, but Atlanta got most of its offense from Jackson and Coles. Jackson had 30 points and Coles went 11-of-14 from the field for 25 points, 16 more than his average. Jackson's free throws gave the Hawks a 113-110 lead with 1:29 left, but Robinson hit two straight jumpers, the second putting Milwaukee up 114-113 with 37 seconds to play. "We were a tired team after playing two nights in a row, but we didn't make any excuses to ourselves and just pack it in," Robinson said. "I got my shot going a little bit, so that helped us out." Tim Thomas, who finished with 13 points, hit two free throws late as Jackson and Coles combined to miss three shots in the final minute. After Dikembe Mutombo won a jump-ball against Sam Cassell with seven seconds left, Rider got an open look at the hoop but missed the shot. Ray Allen had 25 points on the day it was learned he would be added to the U.S. Olympic basketball team. Cassell had 18 assists, one off his career high, to make up for a 3-of-14 shooting performance. The Bucks began the game looking exhausted, and Atlanta jumped to a 15-2 lead just four minutes into the game. Milwaukee lost 124-120 at Philadelphia on Monday night, while Atlanta hadn't played since Thursday. "We have too much firepower to get down after a slow start," Cassell said. "Glenn picked us up and carried us on his back tonight." Surprisingly, Milwaukee came back with the shooting of Dale Ellis, who has been stuck in coach George Karl's doghouse for over a month. Ellis hadn't played in the Bucks' last 15 games, but the 38-year-old sharpshooter was ready. Ellis scored eight quick points to pull Milwaukee back into the game, though Atlanta maintained a narrow lead until Ellis' next 3-pointer put Milwaukee up 88-85 in the closing seconds of the third quarter. "We've got a lot of scorers, so it's a tough situation for me right now," Ellis said. "As long as we're winning, it's much better."
Game notes | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Atlanta Clubhouse Milwaukee Clubhouse Hill, Mourning, Allen complete U.S. Olympic team
RECAPS Indiana 116 New Jersey 111
Milwaukee 116
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