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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The only thing more dangerous than catching
Karl Malone's elbow in the face is catching the Mailman on the rebound.
One night after the Jazz suffered a discouraging loss to
Minnesota, Malone lit up the Bucks for 40 points in Utah's 111-100
win over Milwaukee Saturday night.
|  | | Karl Malone was trapped on this play, but the Bucks didn't contain him for long. |
Malone, who had just 19 points against Kevin Garnett on Friday, embarrassed a long line of Bucks defenders who had no chance to
keep up with the reigning MVP. By game's end, Malone was wearing
the smirk that accompanies his best shooting games and trading
verbal jabs with the Milwaukee crowd.
"Some nights you've just got it going on," Malone said. "It's
a nice win, considering we still aren't playing the Jazz basketball
we want to play yet."
He had just four points in the first quarter but quickly picked
up speed, scoring 12, 13 and 11 in the final three quarters to go
with eight rebounds. J.R. Reid, Danny Manning, Tim Thomas and Ervin
Johnson all failed to slow down the Mailman, who hit his trademark
variety of outside jumpers and leaning drives.
"He came in and dissected our defense," said Ray Allen, who led Milwaukee with 23 points. "He made a lot of shots that we had
absolutely no answer for."
Malone got plenty of help from Bryon Russell, who had 19 points
off the bench, and John Stockton, who had 18 points and 12 assists.
"It was day and night compared to the game in Minnesota," Utah
coach Jerry Sloan said. "We had our concentration from the
beginning of the game, and Karl had a sensational game. When he's
hitting like that, he's about the best that's every played the
game."
The game was a rebound for the Jazz but a letdown for the Bucks,
who beat the defending champion Spurs 99-88 on Thursday night. The
loss was Milwaukee's first at the Bradley Center this season after
four wins.
Of the Bucks' big three offensive performers, only Allen played
well. Sam Cassell had nine assists but had his second straight
horrible shooting night (4-of-13), while Glenn Robinson scored 18
points, but didn't look for the ball down the stretch.
The loss knocked Milwaukee (6-4) out of the Central Division
lead and left Charlotte as the only Eastern Conference team without
a home loss. Utah (6-4) avoided falling to .500 by getting just its
second road win of the year.
Utah shot 55 percent and outrebounded Milwaukee 39-34, while
forcing 15 turnovers by a Bucks squad that commits fewer turnovers
than any team.
"I know it takes time to build a defensive focus, (but) we just
didn't come out with much defensive fight," coach George Karl
said. "I'm getting tired of giving up 110 points."
Malone has a long tradition of big games against the Bucks. He
scored his career-high of 61 points in the old Salt Palace against
Milwaukee in 1990, two days after fans voted the Lakers' A.C. Green
onto the Western Conference All-Star team's starting lineup instead
of him.
Up 53-43 at halftime, the Jazz scored on their first seven
possessions of the second half and led by 19 midway through the
third quarter.
The Bucks closed within 99-88 with 5:03 to play, but Malone
converted a three-point play and the Bucks then failed to score on
six straight possessions, taking a number of ill-advised shots.
Reid's jumper with 23 seconds to play pulled Milwaukee within 10
points for the first time since early in the third quarter.
Thomas had a season-high 17 points for the Bucks. Milwaukee
leads the league in free-throw percentage but was just 21-of-28
Saturday night.
Game notes
The Bucks' five-game winning streak at home, dating back to
last season, was snapped. Milwaukee hasn't had a six-game winning
streak at home since February 1992. ... It was just another normal
night for Greg Ostertag, who airballed a free throw in the final
minute of the third quarter. Five minutes later, Thomas threw down
a thunderous dunk in Ostertag's face. ... Milwaukee has lost 16 of
its last 19 against Utah.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Utah Clubhouse
Milwaukee Clubhouse
RECAPS
LA Clippers 98
Washington 89
Orlando 107
Atlanta 103
Portland 100
Charlotte 96
Indiana 107
Cleveland 98
Miami 110
Boston 92
Philadelphia 100
New Jersey 96
Utah 111
Milwaukee 100
San Antonio 106
Dallas 90
Denver 95
Chicago 86
Seattle 110
Houston 107
New York 86
Golden State 79
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