Milwaukee Bucks Blog – Page 40 – NBA Blog

Bucks beat Suns in first game under coach Jim Boylan

Brandon Jennings glanced over and expected to see coach Scott Skiles on the end of the Milwaukee Bucks’ bench. Instead, he saw Jim Boylan sitting in Skiles’ old spot.

Jennings scored 29 points and the Bucks gave Boylan a win in his first game as coach with a 108-99 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night…

The Bucks parted ways with Skiles on Monday in what was called a mutual decision, and the Bucks tapped Skiles’ top assistant Boylan as a replacement…

Jennings, who before the game said he was frustrated that he learned of the coaching change from Skiles himself instead of someone from the Bucks organization, made 9 of 15 shots and had nine assists…

Goran Dragic scored 21 points and Jared Dudley added 18 for Phoenix.

Larry Sanders had 10 points, eight rebounds, six blocks and three steals for Milwaukee. The Suns scored only 10 points in the paint in the second half as Sanders dominated defensively…

The Bucks won despite an off-night from leading scorer Monta Ellis, who missed 14 of 19 shots and committed five turnovers. Ellis finished with 13 points after coming in with a 19.4 average.

Boylan made a couple of significant changes in his first game at the helm, inserting forward Ersan Ilyasova into the starting lineup and giving more minutes to rookie forward John Henson, the team’s first-round draft pick.

Ilyasova had 12 points, six rebounds and four assists in 26 minutes. Henson had 12 points and 11 rebounds in 19 minutes.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Bucks and coach Scott Skiles part ways

The Milwaukee Bucks and Scott Skiles have mutually agreed to part ways after his four-plus seasons as head coach, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Assistant Jim Boylan will assume head coaching duties for the remainder of the season.

“Scott and I met yesterday after practice and after some honest discussion, we both came to the conclusion that it was best to part ways,” Hammond said. “It is never an easy decision to make, but in the end a decision we felt was best for both parties. I want to thank Scott for his hard work, dedication and the imprint he leaves on our team and our entire organization. We all wish him and his family well.”

In four-plus seasons as head coach of the Bucks, Skiles compiled a 162-182 regular season record (.471), including a 46-36 mark in the 2009-10 campaign when the Bucks took Atlanta to seven games in the First Round of the NBA Playoffs. He was named the 11th head coach in Bucks franchise history on April 21, 2008, replacing Larry Krystkowiak.

“John and I met and mutually agreed that a coaching change would be in the best interest of both parties,” Skiles said.

“The Senator, the people of Wisconsin, and especially those in the Bucks organization have been very kind to me, my wife, and family. I am truly grateful for our time here. We are leaving with many fond memories.

“I believe this team can and will have success in the next 50 games and postseason. I want to thank the players for all of their hard work. I wish them all the best.”

Skiles amassed an overall record of 443-433 (.506) as an NBA head coach, which also includes stints with the Chicago Bulls and the Phoenix Suns. In his 12-plus seasons with the Suns, Bulls and Bucks, Skiles coached in six NBA postseasons (42 games, 18-24 record). He was originally hired as an assistant coach to Danny Ainge in Phoenix, a post he held for two-plus seasons. Prior to that he served as the head coach of PAOK in Greece.

Boylan, 57, has been the lead assistant coach for the Bucks the past four seasons, joining the team after finishing the final 56 games (24-32, .429) of the 2007-08 season as the interim head coach of the Chicago Bulls. His NBA coaching career began in 1992 with Cleveland and has also served as an assistant with Vancouver (1997-2000), Phoenix (2000-02), Atlanta (2003-04) and Chicago (2004-08).

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James Harden scores 29, Rockets beat Bucks

Houston Rockets coach Kevin McHale liked what he saw in the third quarter. So did Jeremy Lin, once he returned from getting stitches.

James Harden scored 29 points to lead the Rockets to a 115-101 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night.

Harden shot 11 of 18 from the floor to go with seven assists and four steals for Houston, which has won 10 of its last 13 games.

After trailing by 18 in the second quarter, Houston outscored Milwaukee 30-14 in the third and led 77-72 at the start of the fourth…

Lin was taken to the locker room with 10:34 left in the third after the left side of his head was slightly bloodied when he collided with the right cheek of Milwaukee’s Larry Sanders as the two scrambled for a loose ball near midcourt. After getting five stiches, he returned to the bench with just under 3 minutes left in the period and started the fourth quarter…

The Rockets, who shot 54 percent from the field, also got 22 points from Carlos Delfino in his return to Milwaukee. He played for the Bucks from 2009-12 before signing with Houston as an unrestricted free agent in the offseason…

Harden scored at least 20 points for the 15th consecutive game. . Houston is 13-2 against the Eastern Conference, including 5-1 on the road . … Jennings has made at least one 3-pointer in 19 straight games and Sanders has blocked at least one shot in the last 18 contests.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Ekpe Udoh replaces Marquis Daniels in Bucks starting five

Bucks coach Scott Skiles said Ekpe Udoh will return to the starting lineup Friday night against the Houston Rockets.

Udoh will replace Marquis Daniels, who has started 16 games at small forward.

The Bucks will start Udoh, Larry Sanders and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute on the front line with Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings in the backcourt.

“It allows me to get Luc on (James) Harden,” Skiles said in his pre-game remarks. “And also with Beno coming back and maybe not being 100%, we may need Marquis a little more in the backcourt.”

Backup point guard Beno Udrih will be available after being held out of Wednesday’s game with a sprained right ankle.

— Reported by Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Spurs beat Bucks for seventh straight victory

After a 69-point outburst in the first half, it would have been easy for the San Antonio Spurs to believe they were going to capture their seventh consecutive win with little resistance.

Instead, the Spurs had to withstand a pair of second half rallies from the Milwaukee Bucks to hang on for a 117-110 victory Wednesday night.

”We knew they were going to make a run at some point,” said San Antonio forward Tim Duncan, who had 28 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. ”They made a run there at the end. They are very good in this building and we knew that. They’ve come back on a lot of people here.” …

”We were in a good groove but in the second half (Milwaukee) played hard,” said Tony Parker, who added 23 points and 11 assists for the Spurs, who shot 52 percent from the field for the game. ”They played with a lot of energy and came back on us. They played very physical.”

Brandon Jennings paced Milwaukee with 31 points. Henson scored a career-high 20 points and added nine rebounds. Mike Dunleavy had 19 points…

Spurs guard Gary Neal returned to the lineup Wednesday after missing four consecutive games with a strained right calf. ”He’s a dangerous player. I’m really happy for him because he finally has an NBA career,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said of Neal, who played four seasons overseas before joining the Spurs in 2010.

— Reported by Rich Rovito of the Associated Press

Latrell Sprewell arrested in Milwaukee over loud music

Milwaukee native and former NBA star Latrell Sprewell was arrested for disorderly conduct Monday afternoon after police received repeated complaints about loud music coming from a house on E. Pleasant St. on Milwaukee’s east side, according to jail records reviewed by the Journal Sentinel Tuesday.

Police would not release details of the incident other than to report that police had received two complaints within one hour Monday afternoon and had received several complaints of loud music from the residence in recent months.

Sprewell, 42 and a graduate of Washington High School, was booked into the jail about 4:15 p.m.

Sprewell’s NBA career spanned 13 years.

— Reported by Raquel Rutledge of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Monta Ellis, Greivis Vasquez named NBA Players of Week

Milwaukee Bucks guard Monta Ellis and New Orleans Hornets guard Greivis Vasquez today were named Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Dec. 24, through Sunday, Dec. 30.

Ellis led the Bucks to a 2-1 week, including wins over the Brooklyn Nets on Dec. 26 and Miami Heat on Dec. 29, with averages of 21.3 points (tied for seventh in the Conference), 8.3 assists (fourth in the Conference) and 4.0 steals (first in the Conference). Ellis had a 30-point game against the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 30 and tallied five-or-more steals against both the Nets and Heat.

Vasquez, who averaged a double-double with 21.0 points and a league leading 10.0 assists, led the Hornets to a 2-1 week which included wins over the Orlando Magic on Dec. 26 and the Charlotte Bobcats on Dec. 29. He also led the Western Conference in minutes per game, playing 41.7 per contest. In New Orleans’ lone loss, 104-97 to the Toronto Raptors on Dec. 28, Vasquez fell one rebound shy of a triple-double, finishing the game with 20 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Al Horford and Jeff Teague, Brooklyn’s Brook Lopez, Denver’s Danilo Gallinari, Detroit’s Will Bynum, Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul, Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge and San Antonio’s Tony Parker.

Balanced Pistons play results in win over Bucks

Tayshaun Prince made two free throws with 10.9 seconds left to give Detroit a 96-94 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night after the Pistons blew a 14-point lead.

Prince scored 20 points, and Greg Monroe added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Detroit, which had five players in double figures. Charlie Villanueva and Brandon Knight added 11 points apiece, and Jason Maxiell scored 10 for the Pistons.

Monta Ellis had 30 points and nine assists, and Erson Ilyasova scored 24 points for the Bucks.

Both teams were coming off wins over the defending NBA champion Miami Heat. Detroit beat Miami 109-99 in Auburn Hills on Friday night and the Bucks beat the Heat 104-85 in Milwaukee one night later…

Detroit G Rodney Stuckey didn’t play because of a left ankle sprain. … Sheila E. performed at halftime. … Mbah a Moute left early in the first quarter with a cut on his lip. He received three stitches and returned late in the quarter.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Bucks step up, hold Heat to 85 points

Brandon Jennings scored 25 points and Mike Dunleavy had 13 of his 18 in the fourth quarter as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Miami Heat 104-85 on Saturday night to spoil Dwyane Wade’s return.

Wade was back after serving a one-game suspension for flailing his leg and making contact with guard Ramon Sessions’ groin during the Heat’s 105-92 victory over Charlotte on Wednesday. Wade sat out Miami’s 109-99 loss to Detroit on Friday night, which snapped the Heat’s six-game winning streak.

Wade had 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting, four assists, six rebounds and three turnovers. LeBron James added 25 points as Miami failed to reach 100 points for just the third time in 28 games.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute scored 19 points for the Bucks, and Larry Sanders had 16 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. Monta Ellis added 14 points for Milwaukee as it avenged a 113-106 overtime loss to the Heat in Miami on Nov. 21.

Dunleavy also had nine rebounds, six assists and three steals in the fourth as the Bucks outscored Miami 35-14…

Bosh had 12 points and 16 rebounds for the Heat, who came in averaging 103.4 points a game while the Bucks were at 95.6…

Miami F Udonis Haslem missed the game. He hurt his right shoulder early in the Detroit game when he landed hard after an acrobatic block on Kyle Singler Haslem stayed in the game and finished with seven points and two rebounds in 20:29. Shane Battier started in his place.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Playing in Milwaukee always scary for Caron Butler

Racine native Caron Butler likes to come home, don’t get him wrong.

But playing against the Bucks in Milwaukee has been a nightmare for the Los Angeles Clippers forward. Butler will try again when the Clippers, winners of eight straight games, meet the Bucks, winners of four in a row, on Saturday night.

He has been injured three times at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, including suffering a ruptured right patella tendon in a game on Jan. 1, 2011, when he was with the Dallas Mavericks. He missed the rest of the season and the Mavericks’ run to the NBA championship.

“I’m going to pray in all type of different languages and ways before I step on the court, because the last three times I’ve been here I’ve had some crazy luck,” Butler said after the Clippers’ shootaround at Marquette’s Al McGuire Center.

“I need a voodoo doctor and everything out there.”

— Reported by Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel