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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Coach George Karl expects more from the
Milwaukee Bucks than a home winning streak.
|  | | Clippers center Michael Olowokandi can't seem to get by Milwaukee's Ray Allen, left, and Ervin Johnson. |
Ray Allen scored 32 points and Glenn Robinson had 29 points and
12 rebounds as the Bucks beat the Los Angeles Clippers 112-91
Tuesday night for their fifth consecutive victory.
It was the Bucks' 10th consecutive triumph in the Bradley Center and the 14th time in franchise history Milwaukee has won 10 consecutive
home games.
Karl was not satisfied.
"Maybe 10 in a row -- period, not 10 in a row at home," Karl
said.
Sam Cassell had 20 points and matched his season-high with 14
assists as the Bucks made 47 of 85 shots while limiting the
Clippers to 42.4-percent shooting from the floor.
After weeks of ranting about poor play and poor attitude, Karl
credited his team's focus for a stretch of 20 victories in 26 games.
"The guys wanted to get there," he said. "They saw that
opportunity and it's helped us have a mature attitude about a lot
of our game presentation."
The Central Division-leading Bucks moved a game ahead of the
idle Charlotte Hornets and improved to eight games above .500 for
the first time since 1991.
"I think we've played with maturity and good focus to get to
first place," Karl said.
Rookie Quentin Richardson led the Clippers with 15 points and
seven rebounds. Lamar Odom added 14 points, six rebounds and five
assists as the Clippers closed out a four-game road trip with their
fourth consecutive defeat.
Allen's 17 points in the first quarter got the Bucks started and
Milwaukee pulled away just before halftime.
Cassell's jumper initiated a 39-17 run that bridged the second
and third quarters. His six points on two baskets and two free
throws punctuated the outburst and gave Milwaukee an 80-51 lead
with 4:44 left in the quarter.
"After the first quarter, it wasn't even a game at all,"
Clippers coach Alvin Gentry said. "Their Big Three (Allen,
Robinson, Cassell) scored 81 points and Sam played great with 14
assists.
"Annihilation is the only way to put it."
Allen contributed seven points in the decisive run, including
one of his five 3-pointers. Robinson also added 15 points.
The Bucks led 96-70 entering the fourth. Karl put Robinson on
the bench and inserted the reserves, but the Clippers used a 9-0
run to close to 17 points early in the fourth.
Karl put Robinson back in the game and Milwaukee thwarted the
comeback with an 8-2 run that included a jump shot and a blocked
shot by Robinson and two long jumpers from Allen.
"George just wanted to make sure and threw a couple of guys
back in there," said Eric Piatkowski, who had 13 points for the
Clippers.
Allen scored 17 points, and three teammates reached double
figures in the first half as the Bucks opened a 54-40 lead at
halftime.
Game notes
Tim Thomas missed three shots in eight minutes in the first
half, then went to the Bucks' bench with a sore right hamstring. He
did not return and is day-to-day. ... The Clippers' Earl Boykins
had a season-high three steals. ... Allen made seven of eight
shots, including all three 3-point attempts, in the first. ... Karl
coached the 999th game of his NBA career and is 596-403 in 14
seasons. ... The Bucks improved to 20-2 when they hold their
opponent to under 100 points.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
LA Clippers Clubhouse
Milwaukee Clubhouse
RECAPS
Miami 93
Detroit 85
Houston 114
Toronto 99
Milwaukee 112
LA Clippers 91
Portland 103
Cleveland 83
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
George Karl Official Site
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