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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The Milwaukee Bucks built last season's success
around their offense. This season, their defense has helped them
halt a disappointing start.
After holding only three opponents under 80 points all of last
season, the Bucks did it for the second consecutive time Friday
night in an 89-76 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Bucks, winners of two straight after a 1-5 start, beat
Atlanta 84-74 on Wednesday. Milwaukee forced 21 turnovers against
the Cavaliers and held them to just 11 fourth-quarter points.
"Five-on-five, we played great defensively," said Milwaukee
coach George Karl. "Their confidence came by scoring when we
didn't get back on defense."
Glenn Robinson scored eight of his 21 points in a 15-3
fourth-quarter run, breaking open a close game. Robinson snapped a
67-67 tie early in the fourth quarter with a layup and a pair of
15-footers to make it 73-67.
Tim Thomas and Cleveland's Trajan Langdon traded 3-pointers, but
the Bucks scored the next six points on an 18-footer by Lindsey
Hunter, a layup by Jason Caffey and another 10-footer by Robinson.
That last basket made it 82-70 with 6:05 remaining and the Bucks
remained in control.
Milwaukee continued to struggle offensively. After averaging
101.2 points per game in the regular season last year, the Bucks
have yet to score 100 points.
Robinson, Ray Allen and Sam Cassell, the Bucks' high-scoring
trio, all are behind their scoring averages and shooting
percentages from last year. But Milwaukee had nine assists on its
10 fourth-quarter baskets to break out of its funk ever so briefly.
"Everybody had good rhythm on the offensive end in the fourth
quarter," Robinson said. "That's the way we played last year. By
the fourth quarter, we had things pretty well figured out and knew
what to do."
Allen got himself going one quarter prior, scoring 19 of his 23
points in the third. The Bucks were only able to extend their 40-39
halftime lead by one point, however, as Lamond Murray kept
Cleveland in it with 11 of his 19 points.
Cleveland was hurt by 21 turnovers, six by point guard Andre
Miller and five by forward Robert Traylor, who was playing in
Milwaukee for the first time after spending two seasons with the
Bucks. The Cavaliers came into the game last in the NBA in
turnovers, averaging 20.3 per game.
"You're going to have turnovers," said Cavaliers coach Randy
Wittman. "(But) we have some of the God-awfulest turnovers right
now."
Murray paced Cleveland with 19 points and Miller added 15
points. Clarence Weatherspoon had 18 rebounds.
Milwaukee led 36-23 in the second quarter when center Ervin
Johnson collected his third foul. With rookie center Joel Pryzbilla
already on the bench with two early fouls, the Cavaliers attacked a
smaller Milwaukee lineup to get back in the game.
In the final 5:36 of the half, Cleveland scored 16 points on
three layups, a dunk, an 18-footer and six free throws. Allen
regained the lead for the Bucks at halftime, 40-39, on a drive at
the end of the period.
Game notes
The Bucks placed forward Scott Williams on the injured list
with lower back spasms. Williams averaged 3.8 points and 4.4
rebounds in five games. He joins another power forward, Darvin Ham,
on the injured list. ... Friday's game was the 2,600th in Bucks
history. The team's all-time record is 1,413-1,187. ... The Bradley
Center crowd barely reacted when Robert Traylor entered the game
for Cleveland with 1:52 left in the first quarter. Traylor played
in Milwaukee for his first two seasons before being traded to the
Cavaliers, and was a fan favorite. But the cheers came later when
Traylor blew a dunk midway through the fourth quarter.
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Milwaukee 89
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