Bobcats and Bucks square off at Bradley Center
(Sports Network) - The Charlotte Bobcats are still searching for their first road win of the season and they face a tall task getting it tonight when they visit the much-improved Milwaukee Bucks at Bradley Center.
The Bobcats fell to 0-6 as the visitor this season when they faltered down the stretch in Philadelphia on Wednesday, dropping an 86-84 decision to the 76ers. The Sixers' Lou Williams scored 19 points and made the game-winning layup with 3.1 seconds left in that one.
In just his second game with the Bobcats since being acquired from Golden State, Stephen Jackson had 26 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Gerald Wallace added 11 points and 12 rebounds for Charlotte, which has dropped six consecutive games and is 0-2 on a three-game road trip.
"I thought we did a pretty darn good job. We defended pretty well and did a good job, but every game there are a bunch of turnovers," said Bobcats head coach Larry Brown. "We fought back, hung in and had a chance to win, but they made plays. Give them credit." The Bucks, meanwhile, will be finishing up a six-game homestand tonight. Scott Skiles' club improved to 4-1 on the residency Wednesday when Andrew Bogut poured in 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, as Milwaukee handed the New Jersey Nets their 12th straight loss to begin the year, a 99-85 decision.
Carlos Delfino had 21 points and six assists for the Bucks, who have won five of their past six games overall. Star rookie Brandon Jennings chipped in 19 points and eight assists, while Luke Ridnour ended with 17 points off the bench for Milwaukee, which outscored New Jersey 58-37 in the second half.
"We just had much more intensity in the third quarter. We started getting after it on the defensive end and held them to 12 points. As has been the case, we were able to get stops and get out in the open floor and get some easy baskets," said Skiles. "The first half we couldn't get anything going in transition. The guys responded at halftime and obviously played much better in the third quarter and we built a decent lead and held them off." A tough 115-113 overtime loss to Dallas on Monday has been Milwaukee's only slipup during the homestand. Jennings, who leads all NBA rookies in scoring at 24.8 points per game, has been the catalyst in helping the Bucks to their best nine-game start since going 8-1 in 2001-02.
On the injury front, Bogut is expected to be sidelined 2-to-4 weeks with a lower left leg strain and contusion he suffered in Wednesday's win. The 7-foot Bogut, who leads the Bucks in rebounding at 9.2 per game to go with 16.1 points, left the contest late in the fourth quarter and underwent an MRI, which revealed the injury. Also, Michael Redd, the Bucks' leading scoring over the past six seasons, has missed the last seven games with a strained tendon in his left knee and remains sidelined.
Milwaukee won three of four vs. Charlotte last season but the Bobcats did snap a five-game skid in the series by taking the final matchup. Overall, the Bucks have won 14 of their last 18 games against Charlotte and three straight at Bradley Center.
11/20 10:43:20 ET
