Bobcats 92, Bucks 76
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Center Al Jefferson had 23 points and 12 rebounds, including 19 points in the second half, as the Charlotte Bobcats beat the Milwaukee Bucks for the second time in a week, 92-76 on Friday.
The Bobcats led by as many as 15 in the first half, settled for a 41-31 halftime lead, and then pushed the margin back up to as many as 19 in the second half.
The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Bobcats, who also won at Milwaukee 96-72 last Saturday. Charlotte, now 8-9, had lost six of its previous seven home games, including the last three.
Guard Gerald Henderson added 19 points for the Bobcats, guard Ramon Sessions scored 11, guard Kemba Walker scored 10, and center Bismack Biyombo had 14 rebounds.
The Bucks suffered their 11th straight defeat and fell to 2-13. They shot just 33.3 percent from the field on 28 of 84.
Guard Brandon Knight led Milwaukee with a season-high 17 points. Guard Gary Neal and center Ekpe Udoh scored 10 each but guard O.J. Mayo, who came into the game averaging 15.3, was held to five on 2 of 11 shooting.
Charlotte pulled away initially by shooting 57.6 percent from the field in the first half. Henderson had 12 points by halftime and Biyombo had 12 rebounds. Charlotte then led 71-59 after three quarters.
NOTES: Bobcats F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist missed his first game of the season with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. He suffered the injury in Wednesday's loss to Indiana. Coach Steve Clifford said that Kidd-Gilchrist would hopefully only miss a few days. F Jeffery Taylor started in his place and F Anthony Tollliver moved into the rotation. ... The Bobcats also remain without C Brendan Haywood (stress fracture, left foot) who could miss more than two months. ... The Bucks have not had G Carlos Delfino all season after surgery on his right foot, and C Larry Sanders missed his 11th straight game after undergoing thumb surgery on Nov. 11. ... C Al Jefferson led the way with 19 points when the Bobcats won at Milwaukee 96-72 last Saturday. F Khris Middleton led Milwaukee with 20 points. ... The Bucks' last win came against Cleveland at home on Nov. 6. The Bucks' lone road win came at Boston on Nov. 1. ... The Bucks came into the game worst in the NBA giving up an average of 20.53 opponents' points off turnovers. Milwaukee has given up more than 20 points off turnovers nine times this season and are 1-8 in those games. ... The Bobcats were coming off a season-low 31.3 percent shooting from the field in their Wednesday loss to Indiana. ... The Bobcats were closing out a three-game homestand. They play at Miami on Sunday and at Dallas on Tuesday. ... The Bucks return home to face Boston on Saturday.
