RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- David Wesley says the Charlotte Hornets are in
a groove defensively, and that in turn sparks their offense.
Wesley scored 24 points and helped the Hornets clamp down
defensively during a 28-2 first-half run to defeat the Milwaukee
Bucks 106-90 Friday night.
The Hornets have won four straight and have held three straight
opponents under 40 percent shooting. The Bucks shot 38 percent.
Jamal Mashburn added 20 points and Baron Davis had 13 points and
11 assists for the Hornets, who travel to Cleveland on Saturday
night for a matchup of the top two teams in the Central Division.
Ray Allen scored 21 points and Sam Cassell 18 for the Bucks, who
have lost three straight and are 3-8. Bucks forward Glenn Robinson
did not dress because of a severe cold. Tim Thomas started in his
place and shot just 2-for-12.
"We've come up with a basic scheme on defense and stick with
it," Charlotte coach Paul Silas said. "We seem to believe in it
and are making it work."
"David (Wesley) has gone up against (Jerry) Stackhouse twice,
Vince Carter, Allen Iverson and Ray Allen in the last five games.
Ray shot the ball best tonight (7 of 15)."
Wesley made 10 of 17 shots in 28 minutes to spark the Hornets'
55 percent shooting. "A lot of that was because we played good
defense, got the ball and worked the ball for good shots," Wesley
said.
"You can get into a groove defensively. When you do that, you
usually play well on the other end."
Charlotte went on an 18-0 run during a six-minute stretch late
in the first quarter and early in the second to erase the Bucks'
27-22 lead.
"That did it right there," Cassell said. "They made shots. We
had good double-teams. I don't care what people say about our
defense. They made a lot of shots, inside and outside."
By the time the Bucks took a timeout with 5:58 left in the
second quarter, the Hornets had completed a 28-2 run and held a
50-29 lead. Charlotte led 62-43 at halftime.
"We didn't really do anything different in that stretch,"
Wesley said. "We came out playing good defense, and they just
started missing their shots."
Silas said the Hornets "turned up the defense during that
stretch and it started to snowball. We got some contributions off
the bench during that run. When you get on a roll on one end of the
court, it can translate to your whole game."
Milwaukee never got closer than the final 16 points in the
second half.
The Bucks, picked by several national publications as favorites
in the NBA Eastern Conference, are shooting 43 percent this season.
They missed Robinson on Friday, and Cassell was somewhat limited by
a hyperextended left knee.
"We have played bad basketball for 11 games now," Allen said.
"It's got to catch somewhere. Right now, we're not a good team."
Coach George Karl did not hold his usual post-game press
conference. The Bucks issued a statement on his behalf: "We've
been struggling all season. We're not a very good defensive team.
We're not a very good offensive team. Things were a little shaky
last year, but this is the lowest it's ever been."
Game
notes
The last time the Hornets won four straight was during
their seven-game winning streak to end last season. ... The Bucks
signed veteran free agent forward Jerome Kersey to replace forward
Scott Williams, who is on the injured list with back problems.
Kersey did not play.
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