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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- What really made victory No. 600 special to
George Karl was that it ended the Milwaukee Bucks' modest losing
streak at two games.
|  | | Ray Allen's 32-point effort helped earn win No. 600 for Bucks coach George Karl. |
"I think it will be more meaningful for me when I'm with my friends in the summer. Now, I'm thinking about Indiana on Saturday," Karl said after the Bucks beat Denver 116-111 Wednesday night, making him the 17th coach in NBA history to win 600 games.
"I've coached a lot of good players. You can't win that many
games without great players," Karl said.
And three of them led him to his milestone.
Ray Allen scored 32 points, Glenn Robinson 25 and Sam Cassell 23.
The Bucks sank 12-of-13 free throws in the final 1:44, including
five by Allen, who hit all 13 of his foul shots, to hold off a
furious charge by the Nuggets, who were led by Antonio McDyess' 26
points.
"He's a great coach, great coach," McDyess said. "I respect him greatly. For him to get that, I'm happy for him, but I didn't want him to get it against us."
The Central Division-leading Bucks avoided their first three-game skid since late November, when they started the season 3-9.
Karl is the sixth-fastest coach to reach 600 victories. He did
it in 1,005 games, one more than it took Don Nelson.
Phil Jackson (805 games), Pat Riley (832), Red Auerbach (933)
and Jerry Sloan (970) are the quickest to 600 victories in league
history.
"It's a great crowd of people, great coaches," Karl said. "I
think it's a great family to be a part of."
Twenty-four of Karl's his victories have come against Denver,
which upset his top-seeded Seattle SuperSonics in the 1994
playoffs. And this was Karl's first win over the Nuggets since
joining the Bucks three years ago.
At the buzzer, Darvin Ham, on the injured list, gave Karl a bear hug.
Karl was given a standing ovation and he stopped to sign
autographs for several fans on his way to the locker room.
"I knew he'd get it one day soon. Now, it's time to for 601," Cassell said. "I don't think it means that much to him. His whole thing is trying to win the big one, the Finals.
"You could win 1,000 games, but if you don't win a championship
... nothing replaces a championship."
Robinson sat out most of the first quarter with foul trouble,
and Allen scored all 15 of his first-half points in the first
quarter. Robinson scored all of his 14 first-half points in the
second quarter as Milwaukee built a 58-46 halftime lead.
The Nuggets opened the third quarter with a 12-4 run to pull to
62-58. Nick Van Exel, a Kenosha, Wis., native who always plays well
at the Bradley Center, closed the run with consecutive 3-pointers.
After Van Exel's bucket pulled Denver to 76-72, Nuggets coach Dan Issel was ejected by Steve Javie for screaming obscenities at him over his officiating. Allen sank the technical for a 79-72 lead, and assistant John Lucas took over for Issel, who refused to
discuss his ejection afterward.
Lucas visited Karl after the game to congratulate him, then ran into Cassell, who returned to Milwaukee's lineup after missing a game with a lingering case of bronchitis.
"You were supposed to be sick," Lucas told Cassell.
Karl, in his 14th season, said he never counted on sticking
around long enough to win 600 times.
"I'm shocked that I'm here," he said. "I'm shocked that I've
lasted this long, in a lot of ways. But now that I've gotten here,
I'm probably going to stick around a while."
Game notes
Karl is seventh among active coaches in career victories.
... Karl was fined $5,000 by the NBA for his critical remarks
directed at the officials after the Bucks' loss to Detroit on
Saturday. ... Milwaukee backup forward Jason Caffey missed the game
with a sore leg. ... James Posey left late in the third quarter
with a bad bruise on his left shin. He's day-to-day.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Denver Clubhouse
Milwaukee Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 102
Indiana 96
Orlando 100
Washington 96
Atlanta 102
Toronto 97
Detroit 112
New Jersey 103
Milwaukee 116
Denver 111
Minnesota 96
LA Lakers 83
San Antonio 92
LA Clippers 70
Phoenix 101
Vancouver 92
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
George Karl Official Site
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