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Wednesday, Apr. 19 8:00pm ET
Bucks' Allen plays in 296th consecutive game | |||||
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The playoffs are all about momentum, and not many teams have more of it than the Milwaukee Bucks. Scott Williams had 19 points and Vinny Del Negro scored eight of his 16 in the final four minutes as the Bucks finished the regular season with a 110-105 victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. Milwaukee played reserves most of the night, having clinched its second straight playoff berth two nights earlier with a victory over the Orlando Magic. Detroit's 112-91 win over Chicago on Wednesday night kept the Bucks in the No. 8 seed in the East. With a hard-fought victory over the Wizards, Milwaukee enters its first-round matchup with the top-seeded Indiana Pacers on a three-game winning streak. Milwaukee (42-40) won 11 of 15 games to close the season, posting a 8-3 record in April while streaking past Orlando for the final playoff spot. The Bucks, who last year snapped a streak of seven consecutive seasons out of the playoffs, finished with a winning record for the first time since 1990-91. Ray Allen, who sprained his left knee against Orlando, didn't let the minor injury end his streak of 296 consecutive games played. Allen, who hasn't missed a game in his four-year NBA career, started the game and played six minutes, scoring five points and even dunking off the injured leg. The Wizards (29-53) ended another lost season with a solid effort but another defeat. Washington's winning percentage decreased for the third straight season, and the Wizards lost five of six, including three straight, to close the year. Interim coach Darrell Walker, who doesn't know whether team president Michael Jordan will retain his services next year, finished with a 15-23 record. Washington gave several glimpses of the tough, offensively talented team its expensive roster suggests but never became. Richmond scored 27 points in another outstanding performance, Chris Whitney had 22 and Bucks-killer Tracy Murray had 15 off the bench. Murray hit a layup with 4:55 to play that gave the Wizards a 95-93 lead, their first of the game. The teams traded baskets until Del Negro hit two free throws and a fallaway jumper that put Milwaukee up 103-99 with three minutes left. Del Negro hit another jumper, and Robert Traylor put the game away with a three-point play with 32 seconds left. Williams led six Bucks in double figures, and Tim Thomas added 15 points. The teams played a thrilling double-overtime game at the Bradley Center in January, which was won on Williams' layup with two-tenths of a second to play. Milwaukee also beat Washington on Saturday night in a 120-116 overtime game. Game notesMilwaukee split its four-game season series with the Pacers and was one of just five teams to win at Conseco Fieldhouse this year. ... The 6-foot-5 Darvin Ham emphatically blocked a fallaway jumper attempt by the 6-foot-11 Howard in the third quarter. ... Before the game, Milwaukee signed CBA Defensive Player of the Year Maceo Baston to a two-year contract. Baston was in uniform for Wednesday night's game and would be eligible for the playoffs. Mirsad Turkcan was placed on the injured list to make room for Baston. ... Murray averaged 18.3 points in the Wizards' four games against the Bucks, nearly twice his average against everyone else. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Washington Clubhouse Milwaukee Clubhouse Bucks' Allen plays in 296th straight game
RECAPS Boston 112 New York 85
Milwaukee 110
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